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stone-break

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 sudden, jarring pause or caesura evoking the sound or feel of breaking stone

Detailed Definition
Stone-break is a deliberate fracture or caesura within a poetic line that halts rhythmic flow with abrupt, jarring force—like striking stone—creating tension, emphasis, or emotional rupture; this technique disrupts expectation to mirror psychological trauma, existential shock, or the limits of articulation, rendering silence as potent as sound.
Example
Example in poetry:
“Then— / silence.” uses stone-break for abrupt pause; “He died. / — / We buried him.” shows stone-break; “No. / — / Never.” employs stone-break for emotional fracture; Minimalist poetry uses stone-break to isolate words
Additional Notes
Stone-break refers to a sudden disruption or fracture within an otherwise solid or formal structure, introducing tension or revelation; metaphorically suggests breaking through rigidity to access deeper truth.
Also Known As
Fractured Caesura Ruptured Line Abrupt Silence Shattered Pause Lithic caesura
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