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Masking

Black American
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 hiding or altering of one’s true feelings or identity for survival or performance.

Detailed Definition
Masking is central to African American poetry about racial performance and social danger. Poets use masks to explore politeness under oppression, concealed rage, double consciousness, coded speech, and the difference between public behaviour and private truth in a racist society.
Example
Example in poetry:
A poem uses a smiling face to hide grief or rage; Dunbar’s mask becomes a model for racial concealment; A speaker performs politeness for safety while speaking truth privately; Masking shows the gap between public survival and inner life
Additional Notes
Masking is a major interpretive concept in African American poetry, referring to the concealment or strategic modification of one’s authentic feelings, identity, or intentions under oppressive social conditions. It is closely related to double consciousness and social survival. Students should examine how shifts in tone, irony, voice, or apparent emotional restraint may signal masking, especially where outward composure hides vulnerability, anger, pain, or resistance.
Also Known As
Mask-wearing Persona masking defilade
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