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Crude language

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

Deliberately coarse, blunt, or vernacular diction used in poetry to shock, ground the work in realism, or challenge poetic decorum.

Detailed Definition
Crude language: Vocabulary or expressions in poetry that employ vulgar, coarse, or offensive terms to achieve particular effects such as shock value, authenticity of voice, social realism, or deliberate violation of poetic decorum. Such language choices may serve artistic purposes including character development or thematic emphasis.
Example
Example in poetry:
Charles Bukowski's deliberately coarse language about urban life; Allen Ginsberg's raw vocabulary in "Howl"; some contemporary slam poetry using street language; working-class poetry employing rough vernacular
Additional Notes
Distinct from vulgar or offensive language in that it's deliberately harsh rather than taboo; used for realism, emphasis, or shock value; common in contemporary poetry addressing difficult subjects; Charles Bukowski frequently employed crude language
Also Known As
Coarse diction Vulgar expression Base terminology Dysphemism Offensive term
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