Concessional volta

Device
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

A turn in argument where the speaker concedes a point before pivoting to a counter-assertion

Detailed Definition
Concessional volta introduces a turn in the poem that acknowledges a counter-argument, limitation, or opposing perspective before reaffirming the primary stance; it employs rhetorical concession to strengthen the poem’s ultimate position through nuanced dialectical engagement.
Example
Example in poetry:
Concessional volta: A turn acknowledging counter-argument—e.g., in Shakespeare’s Sonnet 116: “Love is not love / Which alters when it alteration finds,” the volta concedes potential flaws to affirm constancy.
Additional Notes
A concessional volta introduces a turn that acknowledges a counter-argument or limitation before reaffirming the main stance; common in persuasive or reflective sonnets.
Also Known As
Skip to main content