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Dialect orthography

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 spelling of words in poetry to suggest regional or social pronunciation patterns

Detailed Definition
A spelling style in poetry that represents regional or social speech patterns, often deviating from standard orthography. Dialect orthography captures authentic voice, accent, and pronunciation within the written form.
Example
Example in poetry:
“Ain’t” for “isn’t” in a rural poem; “Y’all” in Southern verse; “O’” for “of” in Scottish poetry; “Dem” for “them” in Caribbean rhymes
Additional Notes
Represents regional or social speech through spelling; important in character voice; linked to vernacular literature.
Also Known As
Dialect spelling Eye dialect Phonetic orthography Regional writing
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