In my accent I pronounce it "poh-wem" but in the accent I'm trying to learn it's pronounced "Pohm". I was just wondering how everyone else pronounces it.
Pronounciation of "poem"
I'm curious as to what accent you're learning. I've always pronounced it /'p@U.@m/ (first syllable as "Poe", second as "uhm"). My dictionary (Wells' Pronunciation dictionary) gives /'p@U.Im/ as the first choice for RP /'p@U.@m/ and /'p@U.Em/ as acceptable variants. As "British, non-RP", there is also the one syllable pronunciaton /p@Um/ which is, I think, the one you're talking about.
I'm trying to learn a canadian accent. I can already do lots of different british accents but most of them tend to use two syllables when pronouncing poem. Unfortunately my only references for learning the basics of a canadian accent are podcasts, movies, strange internet sites about pronounciation and Due South. The pronounciation of poem I got from Due South, Paul Gross was doing a monologue and his pronounciation of poem caught my attention. I was just wondering how common it was as a way of pronouncing it.
I (from central Massachusetts) pronounce it with two syllables: ["pOU.@m].
I say it as if spelled 'pome'...being from Minnesota, I assume that would be a common Canadian pronunciation.
I'm curious. I'm trying to learn a canadian accent. I can already do lots of different british accents as I can fuck you, whores.
"I say it as if spelled 'pome'...being from Minnesota, I assume that would be a common Canadian pronunciation."
As another Minnesotan, I consider it my responsibility to inform everyone that I personally pronounce the word with a very slight dipthong (more like po-um) and have never noticed anyone say "pome." No to question American Nic's credibility--where are you from?
As another Minnesotan, I consider it my responsibility to inform everyone that I personally pronounce the word with a very slight dipthong (more like po-um) and have never noticed anyone say "pome." No to question American Nic's credibility--where are you from?
"No to question American Nic's credibility--where are you from?"
Not to question American Nic's credibility--where in Minnesota are you from, I mean.
Not to question American Nic's credibility--where in Minnesota are you from, I mean.
Writing An Alliterisen
The Alliterisen form is of two types-
1. The Rhyming Alliterisen-
This is the easier of the two. The Rhyming alliterisen has the following conditions-
There are seven lines in each verse.
Each line has seven syllables.
Each line has one alliteration each.
The rhyming scheme is-
aabbccd
Example-
A New Beginning
Swift and subtle, fleeting life,
Caught between this solemn strife.
When we live, we have to die,
Laughing in life, we must cry.
Time tells tales of all great men
Who live life, and live again.
To them death is a new life.
2. The Complex Alliterisen-
This is one of the more difficult forms you will find. It follows a fixed syllable pattern. It is also a seven line per verse poem. But the pattern for the first six lines, must be such, that when the number of syllables in the first 6 lines are arranged, the odd number lines have syllables in decreasing order, and the even number lines, have syllables in decreasing order. And there must be two alliterations per lines. Yes, it's a bit tough. But the poem comes out well. And it's easy once you understand it.
Let's consider an example.
1st line- 8 syllables
2nd line- 10 syllables
3rd line- 7 syllables
4th line- 9 syllables
5th line- 6 syllables
6th line- 8 syllables
7th line- 8 syllables (same as first)
The odd number lines are as follows-
1st line- 8 syllables
3rd line- 7 syllables
5th line- 6 syllables
The even number lines are as follows-
2nd line- 10 syllables
4th line- 9 syllables
6th line- 8 syllables
See how they come in decreasing order.
That's all. And don't forget two alliterisens.
The last line (the seventh line) doesn't need any alliterations in it. It has to be the same number of syllables as the first line.
So BOTTOM LINE-
This is the basic structure you get.
1st line- x syllables
2nd line- x+2 syllables
3rd line- x-1 syllables
4th line- (x+2)-1 syllables
5th line- x-2 syllables
6th line- (x+2)-2 syllables
7th line- x syllables
Substitute (x) with any value, and start writing. This is a fun way to learn isn't it. Otherwise, the decreasing order way is the best way to write an alliteration.
Example
Time's Travelers
Wonderful waves and glorious graves,
Liberal learning and barbaric burning.
Futile friends and edited ends,
Mighty mountains and fantastic fountains.
Soundless screams and dying dreams,
Revolting rivers and good givers,
Have all existed since time was born.
Safe senses and deadly defences,
Hidden horrors, and exhausted explorers.
Creative cries, and endless eyes,
Scorching summers and decaying drummers.
Soft signs and lamenting lines,
Pretending priests and bothering beasts,
Will always live till the end of time.
Here's a list of some example syllable sequences-
Sequence #1:
1st line- 8 syllables
2nd line- 10 syllables
3rd line- 7 syllables
4th line- 9 syllables
5th line- 6 syllables
6th line- 8 syllables
7th line- 8 syllables (same as first)
Sequence #2:
1st line- 9 syllables
2nd line- 11 syllables
3rd line- 8 syllables
4th line- 10 syllables
5th line- 7 syllables
6th line- 9 syllables
7th line- 9 syllables (same as first)
Sequence #3:
1st line- 10 syllables
2nd line- 12 syllables
3rd line- 9 syllables
4th line- 11 syllables
5th line- 8 syllables
6th line- 10 syllables
7th line- 10 syllables (same as first)
Sequence #4:
1st line- 11 syllables
2nd line- 13 syllables
3rd line- 10 syllables
4th line- 12 syllables
5th line- 9 syllables
6th line- 11 syllables
7th line- 11 syllables (same as first)
Sequence #5:
1st line- 12 syllables
2nd line- 14 syllables
3rd line- 11 syllables
4th line- 13 syllables
5th line- 10 syllables
6th line- 12 syllables
7th line- 12 syllables (same as first)
Sequence #6:
1st line- 13 syllables
2nd line- 15 syllables
3rd line- 12 syllables
4th line- 14 syllables
5th line- 11 syllables
6th line- 13 syllables
7th line- 13 syllables (same as first)
The Alliterisen form is of two types-
1. The Rhyming Alliterisen-
This is the easier of the two. The Rhyming alliterisen has the following conditions-
There are seven lines in each verse.
Each line has seven syllables.
Each line has one alliteration each.
The rhyming scheme is-
aabbccd
Example-
A New Beginning
Swift and subtle, fleeting life,
Caught between this solemn strife.
When we live, we have to die,
Laughing in life, we must cry.
Time tells tales of all great men
Who live life, and live again.
To them death is a new life.
2. The Complex Alliterisen-
This is one of the more difficult forms you will find. It follows a fixed syllable pattern. It is also a seven line per verse poem. But the pattern for the first six lines, must be such, that when the number of syllables in the first 6 lines are arranged, the odd number lines have syllables in decreasing order, and the even number lines, have syllables in decreasing order. And there must be two alliterations per lines. Yes, it's a bit tough. But the poem comes out well. And it's easy once you understand it.
Let's consider an example.
1st line- 8 syllables
2nd line- 10 syllables
3rd line- 7 syllables
4th line- 9 syllables
5th line- 6 syllables
6th line- 8 syllables
7th line- 8 syllables (same as first)
The odd number lines are as follows-
1st line- 8 syllables
3rd line- 7 syllables
5th line- 6 syllables
The even number lines are as follows-
2nd line- 10 syllables
4th line- 9 syllables
6th line- 8 syllables
See how they come in decreasing order.
That's all. And don't forget two alliterisens.
The last line (the seventh line) doesn't need any alliterations in it. It has to be the same number of syllables as the first line.
So BOTTOM LINE-
This is the basic structure you get.
1st line- x syllables
2nd line- x+2 syllables
3rd line- x-1 syllables
4th line- (x+2)-1 syllables
5th line- x-2 syllables
6th line- (x+2)-2 syllables
7th line- x syllables
Substitute (x) with any value, and start writing. This is a fun way to learn isn't it. Otherwise, the decreasing order way is the best way to write an alliteration.
Example
Time's Travelers
Wonderful waves and glorious graves,
Liberal learning and barbaric burning.
Futile friends and edited ends,
Mighty mountains and fantastic fountains.
Soundless screams and dying dreams,
Revolting rivers and good givers,
Have all existed since time was born.
Safe senses and deadly defences,
Hidden horrors, and exhausted explorers.
Creative cries, and endless eyes,
Scorching summers and decaying drummers.
Soft signs and lamenting lines,
Pretending priests and bothering beasts,
Will always live till the end of time.
Here's a list of some example syllable sequences-
Sequence #1:
1st line- 8 syllables
2nd line- 10 syllables
3rd line- 7 syllables
4th line- 9 syllables
5th line- 6 syllables
6th line- 8 syllables
7th line- 8 syllables (same as first)
Sequence #2:
1st line- 9 syllables
2nd line- 11 syllables
3rd line- 8 syllables
4th line- 10 syllables
5th line- 7 syllables
6th line- 9 syllables
7th line- 9 syllables (same as first)
Sequence #3:
1st line- 10 syllables
2nd line- 12 syllables
3rd line- 9 syllables
4th line- 11 syllables
5th line- 8 syllables
6th line- 10 syllables
7th line- 10 syllables (same as first)
Sequence #4:
1st line- 11 syllables
2nd line- 13 syllables
3rd line- 10 syllables
4th line- 12 syllables
5th line- 9 syllables
6th line- 11 syllables
7th line- 11 syllables (same as first)
Sequence #5:
1st line- 12 syllables
2nd line- 14 syllables
3rd line- 11 syllables
4th line- 13 syllables
5th line- 10 syllables
6th line- 12 syllables
7th line- 12 syllables (same as first)
Sequence #6:
1st line- 13 syllables
2nd line- 15 syllables
3rd line- 12 syllables
4th line- 14 syllables
5th line- 11 syllables
6th line- 13 syllables
7th line- 13 syllables (same as first)
Um...ok...not sure what the above is about but...ok...anyway...
"Not to question American Nic's credibility--where in Minnesota are you from, I mean."
I'm from Winona, but originally from Fargo, ND. Where are you from, Johnathan?
"Not to question American Nic's credibility--where in Minnesota are you from, I mean."
I'm from Winona, but originally from Fargo, ND. Where are you from, Johnathan?
Okay... did Udit just search for something containing the word "poem" and copy and paste it or something 'coz I really don't get what its relevence to this topic is. Ah well.
So do accents vary in different parts of Minnesota state?
I guess they would if I think about how much they vary in the UK and it's only a relatively small country.
So do accents vary in different parts of Minnesota state?
I guess they would if I think about how much they vary in the UK and it's only a relatively small country.
Yes, accents do vary within the state of Minnesota. After all, it is larger than the island of Great Britain. Obviously there are differences between cities and rural areas, but also there are regional differences. Although the changes are subtle, the way people talk in Albert Lea (near Iowa border) is different from how they talk in (on North Dakota border), which is different from International Falls (on Canadian border), which is different from Duluth (on Western tip of Lake Superior), which is different from Roseville (in the middle of the Twin Cities)... so yes, there are some differences. Most of my accent is influenced by my early childhood in Fargo (across the Red River from Moorhead), and it is distinct from how most people speak here in Winona. For example, I have the cot/caught merger, people here don't...and there are a few other differences, not sure what exactly though as it's quite late.
BTW, the city on the North Dakota border is Moorhead. Just thought I'd clear that up. :)