Prosody is the study of intonation, stress, rhythm, and phoneme duration in speech. In its spelling, the word "prosody" follows the spelling-to-sound correspondence of English, where each letter represents a phoneme. The first syllable "pro-" is pronounced as /pɹəʊ/ with a long vowel sound followed by the r sound, while the second syllable "-so-" is pronounced as /səʊ/ with a long vowel sound. Lastly, the third syllable "-dy" is pronounced as /diː/ with a long vowel sound and a soft d sound.
Prosody refers to the techniques and patterns that govern the rhythm, meter, and sound of poetry, as well as the study of these elements in written and spoken language. It is a branch of linguistics and literary criticism that examines the way in which a poem's structure and sound contribute to its overall meaning and effect. Prosody encompasses various aspects of poetry, including syllable count, stress patterns, rhyme, alliteration, assonance, and meter.
In terms of rhythm, prosody refers to the patterns of stressed and unstressed syllables that create a sense of flow and musicality in a poem. It involves understanding and analyzing the different metrical feet employed in a line of verse, such as iambic, trochaic, anapestic, and dactylic.
Additionally, prosody explores the role of sound devices in poetry, such as rhyme and repetition. Rhyme schemes, such as AABB or ABAB, contribute to the overall structure and form of a poem. Alliteration, the repetition of consonant sounds, and assonance, the repetition of vowel sounds, can add emphasis, musicality, and beauty to the poem.
The study of prosody helps readers and critics appreciate the technical and aesthetic aspects of poetry. By understanding the patterns and techniques employed by poets, readers can gain a deeper understanding of the poem's meaning and appreciate the artistry involved in its creation.
That part of gram. which treats of quantity, accent, and the laws of harmony-chiefly restricted to versification, but may also be extended with propriety to prose composition.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
The word "prosody" originated from the Greek word "prosōidía", which is a combination of two Greek terms: "pros", meaning "towards" or "for", and "ōidḗ", meaning "song" or "ode". Thus, the literal meaning of "prosōidía" is "towards the song". In ancient Greece, prosody referred to the study of the rhythm, meter, and intonation of poetry and song. Eventually, the term evolved in English to encompass the study of the patterns of stress, intonation, and rhythm in language, not just limited to poetry and song.