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Spoken Word

Performance
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

Poetry written primarily for oral delivery. It emphasizes voice, rhythm, presence, and connection with listeners.

Detailed Definition
Spoken word is a broad performance-oriented poetry practice that foregrounds the live voice. It often draws on oral storytelling, theater, hip-hop, political speech, and community testimony, though its forms are highly varied. Spoken-word poems may use repetition, rhyme, narrative, direct address, and improvisational energy to engage an audience. The term emphasizes that the poem is not only a printed text but an event shaped by breath, body, space, and response.
Example
Example in poetry:
Perform a spoken word poem in a conversational but heightened voice, treating the page as a score for rhythm and emotion; Use personal experience as material, as many spoken word poets do, while shaping it through imagery, repetition, and line breaks; In Sarah Kay’s spoken word performances, narrative details and direct address help listeners follow an intimate story; Write a spoken word piece with a repeated opening such as “I was taught,” then perform each repetition with growing urgency
Additional Notes
Spoken word is designed to be heard as well as read. Writers often use repetition, rhythm, direct address, and vivid sound patterns to build connection. Revising aloud helps reveal awkward phrasing and opportunities for emphasis.
Other Meanings of “Spoken Word”
Also Known As
Performance Poetry Oral Poetry
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