Home › Glossary › Letter B

Boustrophedon

Concept
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

Want to hear it? Click the Listen button to hear the browser speak the word using text-to-speech!

The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

Writing style alternating direction of lines (left-right, then right-left)

Detailed Definition
Boustrophedon is an ancient writing style where lines alternate direction—left to right, then right to left—with mirrored lettering, mimicking ox-plowing; in poetry, it inspires experimental layouts where text visually “turns,” challenging linear reading and emphasizing spatial form.
Example
Example in poetry:
Boustrophedon is ancient writing that alternates direction line by line; example: an inscription reading left-to-right on one line, then right-to-left on the next, like an ox plowing a field.
Additional Notes
Ancient writing alternating line direction (left-to-right, then right-to-left). Like plowing a field. Historical curiosity more than contemporary practice. Related: palindrome, pattern poetry. Occasionally revived in experimental concrete poetry.
Also Known As
ox-turning style alternating script
Skip to main content