Home › Glossary › Letter T

technical lexicon

Concept
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

Want to hear it? Click the Listen button to hear the browser speak the word using text-to-speech!

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

The specialized vocabulary used in discussion or analysis of poetic craft

Detailed Definition
Technical lexicon refers to the specialized vocabulary of a particular field—science, craft, music, etc.—used within poetry to infuse lyrical expression with precision, authenticity, or conceptual depth; when poets like Muriel Rukeyser or Tracy K. Smith incorporate technical terms, they bridge disciplines, transforming jargon into metaphor and expanding poetry’s capacity to engage with complex realities.
Example
Example in poetry:
John Keats’s medical training appears in "Ode to a Nightingale": "hemlock," "vintage"; Muriel Rukeyser’s "The Book of the Dead" uses industrial terminology; Claudia Rankine uses sports lexicon in "Citizen"; Ocean Vuong uses botanical terms in "Time Is a Mother"; Tracy K. Smith’s "Life on Mars" blends astrophysics with lyric.
Additional Notes
Technical lexicon refers to specialized vocabulary—scientific, musical, or craft-based—used precisely within a poem (e.g., Hecht’s surgical terms). It adds authenticity and texture. Students should research terms: how do they deepen theme? Avoid dismissing as jargon—lexicon is often metaphorical.
Also Known As
Poetic diction Technical vocabulary Craft lexicon Artisanal terminology Proper designation
Skip to main content