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medial stop with continuation

Sound
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

A mid-line pause (caesura) that interrupts rhythm but continues syntactically, maintaining forward momentum in the line.

Detailed Definition
Medial stop with continuation describes a caesura or pause within a line that halts syntactic flow momentarily, yet the grammatical unit continues past it, generating rhythmic complexity and emphasis; this technique balances interruption and progression for dramatic or meditative effect.
Example
Example in poetry:
medial stop with continuation (A pause or punctuation mark mid-line that slows the reader, but the sentence structure continues to the next line without syntactical break); "The old man smiled, and nodded at the sun, / Which warmed his weary face"
Additional Notes
A strong punctuation mark or grammatical stop (e.g., colon, semi-colon, full stop) in the middle of a line, but the surrounding clause structure or idea nonetheless continues to the next line; a form of tension between rhythm and syntax.
Also Known As
Medial stop with flow half-line closure and continuation paused enjambment Caesural enjambment
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