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Decoro

Concept
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 principle of stylistic suitability between form, diction, and subject matter

Detailed Definition
Decoro (or decorum) in poetry refers to the principle that style, diction, and form should align appropriately with subject matter, genre, and audience; rooted in classical rhetoric (Aristotle, Horace), it governs tonal consistency—e.g., elevated language for epic themes, plain speech for rustic subjects—and remains relevant in discussions of poetic voice and ethical representation.
Example
Example in poetry:
Decoro: In classical poetry, a shepherd would not speak like a king; decoro demands characters use diction appropriate to their station, as in Virgil’s Eclogues.
Additional Notes
Decoro (Italian "decorum") matches style to subject—high style for noble topics, low for common. Renaissance principle. Related to genre hierarchy. Violated by mock-heroic, tragicomedy. Classical rhetorical concept.
Also Known As
Propriety Decorum principle Fittingness Aesthetic appropriateness
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