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Dochmiac

Meter
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

An irregular, emotionally charged Greek metrical foot (typically – u – – u) used in tragedy and lyric to express agitation, passion, or turmoil.

Detailed Definition
Dochmiac is a highly irregular classical metrical foot (˘ – – ˘ – or variants) associated with emotional intensity, agitation, or lament in Greek tragedy; its jagged, unpredictable rhythm defies regular patterning, making it rare in English but occasionally imitated in experimental verse seeking to convey psychological turmoil or ecstatic speech.
Example
Example in poetry:
Dochmiac: "Greek meter: ¯ ˘ ¯ ˘ ¯ —used in tragedy for agitation"; "Aeschylus employs dochmiacs in moments of panic"; "Rare in English—approximated by stressed clusters"; "Conveys emotional turbulence: 'FLEE NOW! HIDE!'"; "Five-syllable foot of irregular stress—dramatic urgency"
Additional Notes
Ancient Greek metrical foot: ˘¯˘¯¯ or variations. Complex, syncopated rhythm suggesting anguish or agitation. Rare in English. Associated with tragedy and emotional intensity. Study Greek prosody.
Also Known As
emotional meter tragic rhythm
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