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break-continuation

Sound
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

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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

A pause followed by a continuation across a line break or caesura, combining stillness with forward motion; in poetry, it creates a tension between closure and flow, linking disparate thoughts.

Detailed Definition
break-continuation is a poetic strategy where a syntactic unit flows across a line break without pause, yet the visual break subtly inflects meaning through delayed recognition or rhythmic emphasis; this balance of continuity and interruption—central to enjambment—allows poets to layer implication while maintaining forward momentum.
Example
Example in poetry:
Break-continuation: A poetic technique where a line breaks unexpectedly but thought continues, as in free verse; Used to create tension or surprise in reading; Example: ‘The sun set – / and with it vanished all hope.’
Additional Notes
A form of enjambment where the syntax and meaning flow without pause across the line break; The momentum of the line immediately continues onto the next, often without punctuation at the line end; Essential for achieving a conversational or rapid pace.
Also Known As
Ongoing break Break continuation Carry-through pause Caesura enjambment
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