How to measure verses (II)

We have already seen how the Metrica is responsible for measuring the verses of a poem, marking the rhythm of it, which is able to apply the necessary intonation so that the verse obtains that almost celestial music that characterizes it. We must highlight, now, the known metric licenses . This new concept is based on the intonation of a verse, it focuses on how we divide the syllables that take into account how we unite the words to produce a certain effect in their reading. From .com we keep explaining how to measure verses.

one

The sinalefa : when a word ends in a vowel and the next also begins with a vowel, both join generating a single syllable. The sinalefa must be applied even when both words are separated by a punctuation mark. Similarly, the sinalefa also applies to words with "and" that have an "i" sound, and those that start with "h".

two

The hiatus or dialefa: there are times when the poet decides not to perform the synalefa, which only occurs when the next word that begins with a vowel, is formed by an unstressed initial vowel. In this case, they count as 2 different syllables, they do not join.

3

The umlaut: according to what occasions, the poet decides to undo and end with a diphthong with the intention of adding one more syllable to the verse. In this way, they mark orthographically the umlaut in one of their vowels and thus create that effect.

4

The syneresis: in this case, the poet decides the opposite with the umlaut, unite the 2 syllables of a diphthong and create one, with the intention of obtaining a syllable less in the measure of the verse.

• Know the spelling rules well to know what a diphthong is and when it occurs.
• Expand our vocabulary with reading and we will recognize how words are accentuated and divided.
• Have a good metric manual nearby to help us in case of doubt.
• To know in depth the advances that can be given in this branch of language, to adapt to the new conditions of measure of verses.