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sling

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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

Sling is a simple weapon of a strap or cord used to throw stones or bullets with centrifugal force.

Detailed Definition
Sling appears in poetry as a biblical and folk emblem of the humble weapon and the deadly accuracy of the thrown stone. In literary contexts it represents the underdog's force. Poets draw on the sling to illustrate themes of the whirled stone, the release of David, and the cultural resonance of the weapon that has felled giants in the poetry of faith and combat.
Example
Example in poetry:
The sling’s whirled stone and sudden release supply poets with images of humble and deadly accuracy; Biblical and folk verse place the simple weapon in the hand of the underdog; “He loosed the sling and the distance between intention and result disappeared” illustrates concentrated force; Educational poetry shows the tool as the oldest and most democratic of projectiles; Poets return to the sling whenever the small must overcome the large by pure timing.
Additional Notes
The sling’s strap and whirled stone root the poetry of aimed force in one of the oldest and most democratic of weapons. Poets who choose it often wish to emphasize the underdog’s advantage or the sudden equality of the thrown missile. Classroom discussion can usefully contrast the sling with the bow or the later firearm. Related throwing weapons include the staff-sling and the various forms of the hand-sling. The image remains powerful because the small stone can still overcome the large opponent.
Also Known As
Slingshot Projectile Launcher Ancient Sling Flexible Weapon
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