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Imitative echo

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 repetition of sounds that mimics spoken words or external noises

Detailed Definition
Echo that precisely reproduces original sounds or structures without variation or approximation. Imitative echo creates exact sonic duplication, distinguished from modified or approximate echoes. This technique emphasizes particular words through perfect repetition, creates formal symmetry, and highlights the echoed elements' importance. Imitative echo requires careful phonetic planning and can serve both structural and thematic purposes.
Example
Example in poetry:
Imitative echo appears in Poe’s “The Raven”: “Quoth the Raven, ‘Nevermore’”; In Coleridge’s “Rime of the Ancient Mariner”: “Water, water, every where”; In Shakespeare’s “Midsummer Night’s Dream”: “I’ll follow thee and make a heaven of hell”; In contemporary poet Tracy K. Smith: “It goes, it goes”; In Sylvia Plath’s “Daddy”: “I do, I do”.
Additional Notes
Echo that exactly reproduces the original sound or structure. Distinguished from approximate or modified echoes. Creates precise sonic duplication. Can emphasize particular words or create formal symmetry. Requires careful attention to phonetics.
Also Known As
exact echo precise repetition sonic duplication perfect acoustic mirror Echolalic rhyme
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