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Coarse diction

Device
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

The use of rough, blunt, or vulgar language for expressive effect

Detailed Definition
Coarse diction employs rough, blunt, or socially unrefined language—including slang, profanity, or rustic terms—to convey authenticity, raw emotion, or social critique; it contrasts with elevated or formal diction and is often used in protest poetry, working-class narratives, or satirical verse.
Example
Example in poetry:
Charles Bukowski’s “The Laughing Heart” uses coarse diction like “crap” and “gut” to convey raw authenticity; Sharon Olds’ “The Language of the Brag” employs coarse diction (“shit,” “piss”) to reclaim maternal experience; Philip Larkin’s “This Be The Verse” opens with coarse diction: “They fuck you up, your mum and dad”; Ai’s dramatic monologues often feature coarse diction to expose psychological trauma and social violence
Additional Notes
Coarse diction uses blunt, rough, or vulgar language to convey raw emotion, realism, or social critique; it’s common in confessional, working-class, or protest poetry and challenges poetic decorum.
Also Known As
Rustic language Vulgar phrasing Unrefined lexicon Crude language Vulgar expression
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