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Signature phrase

Device
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 distinctive, recurring phrase associated with a particular poet or poetic voice

Detailed Definition
A signature phrase is a distinctive verbal motif, refrain, or stylistic tic that becomes closely associated with a particular poet—such as Whitman’s “O Captain! My Captain!” or Dickinson’s “Hope is the thing with feathers.” These phrases often encapsulate a poet’s thematic concerns or sonic identity and may recur across multiple works, serving as a recognizable hallmark of their voice and vision.
Example
Example in poetry:
“O Captain! My Captain!” (Whitman’s signature); “Do not go gentle” (Thomas’s refrain); “Tyger Tyger” (Blake’s incantation); “Quoth the Raven” (Poe’s hallmark); “I contain multitudes” (Whitman’s later signature)
Additional Notes
A signature phrase becomes a poet’s hallmark through repetition or distinctiveness (“O Captain! My Captain!”). Develop yours through consistent thematic or sonic motifs—not forced catchphrases.
Also Known As
Leitmotif phrase poetic leitmotif
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