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Propriety

Concept
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 quality of being appropriate or suitable in poetic diction or theme

Detailed Definition
Propriety in poetry denotes the quality of being appropriate in diction, tone, and subject matter relative to genre, audience, and context; it ensures that stylistic choices align with thematic seriousness and avoid jarring or incongruous effects.
Example
Example in poetry:
In Victorian poetry, propriety demanded euphemism for sexuality (“faint with love” vs. explicit desire); Emily Dickinson’s restrained grief in “Because I could not stop for Death” observes emotional propriety; In courtly love poetry, unattainable mistresses uphold social propriety; Contemporary poets challenge propriety: Plath’s “Daddy” violates decorum with Holocaust imagery; Propriety in Japanese waka required seasonal references and modest expression.
Additional Notes
Propriety: The quality of being appropriate or fitting to the circumstances; a key element of classical decorum (7207) and aesthetic appropriateness (7209).
Also Known As
Decorum Appropriateness Fittingness Stylistic propriety Decoro Mense
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