Assonance

Definition

Assonance is the repetition of vowel sounds within closely placed words, creating a musical quality and enhancing the rhythm of language. This technique can evoke emotion, reinforce meaning, and create a memorable auditory experience, making it particularly effective in speeches where the speaker aims to engage and persuade their audience.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Assonance can make speeches more engaging by adding a lyrical quality, helping to captivate the audience's attention.
2. This technique can also enhance the emotional impact of a speech by emphasizing particular phrases or themes through sound.
3. Speakers often use assonance in combination with other rhetorical devices like alliteration to create a more powerful and memorable message.
4. Assonance is particularly effective in persuasive speeches, as it can help reinforce key points and make them resonate with listeners.
5. Famous speeches throughout history have utilized assonance to create memorable phrases that linger in the minds of audiences long after the speech is over.

Review Questions

• How does assonance contribute to the effectiveness of a speech?
  • Assonance contributes to the effectiveness of a speech by creating a musical quality that engages listeners and enhances the rhythm of the delivery. This repetition of vowel sounds can emphasize key ideas and evoke emotions, making the message more persuasive. By incorporating assonance, speakers can craft memorable phrases that resonate with their audience long after the speech has ended.
• Compare and contrast assonance with alliteration. In what ways do they serve different purposes in speech writing?
  • While both assonance and alliteration are sound-based rhetorical devices, they serve different purposes. Assonance focuses on the repetition of vowel sounds, which can create a melodic flow and enhance emotional resonance within phrases. In contrast, alliteration emphasizes the repetition of initial consonant sounds, which often draws attention to specific words or concepts. Together, they can be used effectively in speeches to create rhythm and emphasize important messages.
• Evaluate the impact of using assonance in historical speeches. How has this device shaped public perception and memory of those speeches?
  • Using assonance in historical speeches has significantly shaped public perception and memory by creating impactful, rhythmic phrases that stick in people's minds. For instance, famous speeches that incorporate assonance have become iconic due to their lyrical quality and emotional depth, leading audiences to remember not just the content but also the delivery. This auditory appeal has helped leaders convey powerful messages that resonate with their audience, influencing public opinion and inspiring action.

Related terms

alliteration: The repetition of initial consonant sounds in closely positioned words, often used to create rhythm or emphasize specific ideas.

rhyme: The correspondence of sounds at the end of words, commonly used in poetry and speeches to create a pleasing auditory effect.

meter: The structured pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables in a line of poetry or speech that contributes to its rhythm and flow.