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Line Break Cueing

Performance
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 use of vocal or physical signals to make poetic line breaks audible. It can reveal the poem’s visual structure in live delivery.

Detailed Definition
Line break cueing refers to subtle choices that help listeners perceive where written lines end when they cannot see the page. A performer may use a tiny suspension, a shift in pitch, a breath, or a change in gesture without inserting a full stop. This practice is especially useful in free verse, where line breaks may create double meanings or delayed revelations. The cue should illuminate the poem’s form without making every line break sound identical.
Example
Example in poetry:
In Emily Dickinson’s poetry, a performer can use the dash as a cue for a brief hesitation rather than a full stop; When a line ends with an incomplete phrase, the reader can continue smoothly into the next line to honor enjambment; In a poem with isolated one-word lines, pausing before and after the word can cue the audience to its importance; A poet can mark line breaks in a script with slashes during rehearsal to decide which breaks need silence and which need continuation
Additional Notes
A brief pause, change in gaze, gesture, or altered pitch can signal a line break. Avoid making every break identical; let the poem’s syntax guide you.
Also Known As
Line Cueing Line-Break Signaling
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