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Sound coupling

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

Intentional pairing of similar phonemes (e.g., alliteration, assonance) to create harmony, contrast, or mnemonic resonance.

Detailed Definition
Sound coupling refers to the deliberate pairing of phonetic elements to create sonic patterns within poetry. This technique links vowels, consonants, or phonemes to generate auditory cohesion and emphasis.
Example
Example in poetry:
Sound coupling links words through assonance or consonance: Emily Dickinson’s “light/night”; Wilfred Owen’s “Anthem for Doomed Youth” (“rifles’ rapid rattle”); contemporary examples include Danez Smith’s internal rhymes; Paul Muldoon’s sonic puzzles; Gwendolyn Brooks’ “We Real Cool” (“Lurk late… Strike straight”).
Additional Notes
Sound coupling links words or lines through assonance, consonance, or alliteration rather than rhyme. Related to phonetic repetition and sound pattern rhyme. Builds cohesion in free verse—map sound clusters to uncover hidden structure.
Also Known As
Phonetic pairing Sound linkage Acoustic coupling Diphone Phonetic doublet
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