Continuous pair

Form
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 two-line poetic unit with enjambment or syntactic continuity, avoiding end-stops to mimic natural speech or unbroken thought.

Detailed Definition
A two-line verse unit or couplet in which syntax, grammar, or sentence structure flows continuously from first to second line without pause or syntactic completion. The continuous pair uses enjambment to create unity between lines, forming a single grammatical structure across the couplet. This technique contrasts with end-stopped couplets where each line achieves closure, instead emphasizing forward momentum and the interdependence of the paired lines through syntactic continuation.
Example
Example in poetry:
Couplet where first line flows into second without pause; Two lines forming single unbroken sentence; Pair with syntax continuing across line break; Doublet unified by grammatical flow
Additional Notes
Demonstrates enjambment in miniature. The technique creates unity and forward momentum. Common in heroic couplets where poets vary end-stopped and flowing pairs.
Also Known As
Skip to main content