Home › Glossary › Letter R

resonance indicator

Sound
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

Want to hear it? Click the Listen button to hear the browser speak the word using text-to-speech!

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 phonetic or rhythmic element that enhances the lingering auditory effect of a line or phrase

Detailed Definition
A resonance indicator is a typographic or spatial device—such as italics, bolding, capitalization, spacing, or line breaks—used to highlight emotionally or thematically charged words within a poem. These visual cues guide interpretation and emphasis, especially in free verse lacking metrical stress. Used sparingly, they amplify meaning; overused, they dilute impact and disrupt flow.
Example
Example in poetry:
Use of italics to mark resonant words: “remember”; Bolded phrases indicating emotional core: “I am here”; Resonance shown through spacing: “alone      together”; Capitalization for emphasis: “LOVE”; Repetition with variation signaling thematic weight: “river... River... RIVER”
Additional Notes
A resonance indicator (italics, caps, spacing) highlights emotionally or thematically charged words. Use sparingly; overuse dilutes impact. Let context do some of the work.
Also Known As
resonance locator sonar line
Skip to main content