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Support rhythm

Meter
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 rhythm providing structural balance to other patterns in a poem

Detailed Definition
Support rhythm is a secondary metrical or rhythmic pattern that underlies or interweaves with the primary meter to create polyrhythmic complexity, often through syncopation, counterpoint, or internal echoes; this subtle layering enriches the poem’s musicality without disrupting its dominant beat, as in jazz-influenced verse where offbeat stresses interact with regular iambic lines to evoke improvisational energy.
Example
Example in poetry:
Support rhythm underpins main meter with subtle variation: Anapests in iambic verse add lift (“And the sound of a voice that is still”); Occasional trochees in blank verse create emphasis (“Cúrfew tólls the knéll”); Syncopation in hip-hop poetry supports dominant beat; Dactylic substitutions in hexameter add grandeur.
Additional Notes
Support rhythm|A secondary rhythmic pattern that underlies or subtly reinforces the main meter of a poem, adding complexity and variation without breaking the overall metrical expectation.
Also Known As
Supporting rhythm Auxiliary meter Underlying beat Armature rhythm
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