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Home » Poems & Poetry » Blogs » THE PROBLEM WITH SYLLABLE COUNT

THE PROBLEM WITH SYLLABLE COUNT - Nette Onclaud's Blog

About Nette Onclaud
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BIO SKETCHES:

Location: north node of pisces in past lives

Characteristics: moon-angel, summer gypsy

Philosophy: in life and love, don’t settle for less than 100%

Greatest sin: can do nothing for a day and stay in the “ now”

Education: a student of life on earth and outbound

Style: blend of classic and eclectic

Strengths and weaknesses: shadows chasing light; light chasing shadows

Luxuries:  inner spirit dancer, theater actress, educator, painter, poet, interior designer

Addictions: diet coke, rare collections, travels around the world

Unforgettable scene: pathways of Prague in Czechoslovakia around dusk

Claim to fame: the world's worst typist

THE PROBLEM WITH SYLLABLE COUNT

Blog Posted:1/23/2014 7:00:00 AM


.. is that syllable counters like the ones on soup or dictionaries differ... the word 

'BRILLIANCE' has 3-syllbale count, though we know other references claim otherwise... answers.yahoo.com says: " it depends on the accent used, really. Some will make something of the second 'i', thus making it three syllables: brill-i-ance. Others will say the second 'i' as if it's a consonant 'y' sound, like "brill-yance", and that would make it two syllables.


in my recent contest, ' Through My Window' , so many beautiful entries missed the syllable count of the form, kimo, arrgh!...


i use the site, www.howmanysyllables.com  to check the number of syllables;

 it is  very reliable!...


thus, i would like to honor or give special citations

 to andrea dietrich, carrie richards, and dr. ram mehta

for their splendid poems...


 would you have any other ideas as to where we can find  links that we can use to ensure the accuracy of syllable count?


share pleease, and maybe, we can all use one or two as our guide...


congrats, everyone... and huggs!






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Henderson Avatar
Charles
Henderson
Date: 1/26/2014 8:42:00 PM
I always count my own syllables, because I can do a bettler job than the counters. Also, if their is a question about two ways of pronouncing or as in the case of the example in your blog, it is immediately appearant. I think I relate a lot closer to the writer than going through a counter. I had much rather give the poet the benefit of the doubt.
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Onclaud Avatar
Nette
Onclaud
Date: 1/23/2014 3:25:00 PM
carrie: ohh no, " rattling " was fine...your 3rd lines contained 5 syllables instead of requiered six syls of kimo, like so:" stroke the horizon".. the 2nd read: " and my reflection.." needles to say the whole piece was utterly amazing that i had to cite it... thanks and huggs!
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Richards Avatar
Carrie Richards
Date: 1/23/2014 3:55:00 PM
Thanks Nette !!! Don't know what I was thinking !!
Richards Avatar
Carrie Richards
Date: 1/23/2014 3:54:00 PM
ahhkk......where was my head...?? lol....obviously it was in the jet-stream..!! lol
Paras Avatar
Manny
Paras
Date: 1/23/2014 3:11:00 PM
It took me time to count the syllables using my fingers, really. Just glad I made it somehow. Thank you, Nette, and congratulations to the winners.
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Richards Avatar
Carrie
Richards
Date: 1/23/2014 1:45:00 PM
I'm disappointed, but I understand, Nette.....(I'm assuming that you were referring to "rattling"...?.... I, like Andrea, gave it thought as I was writing,, and thought perhaps a note beneath the poem, but then didn't. Oh well....I heard three syllables...but must have been mistaken. Thanks for letting me know why! and big congrats to your winners!!
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Onclaud Avatar
Nette Onclaud
Date: 1/23/2014 3:27:00 PM
hi carrie, please see my personal reply to you above... huggs, dear onw!
Gonza Avatar
Franco
Gonza
Date: 1/23/2014 12:24:00 PM
First, thank you for placing me in your contest, Nette. Secondly, I went through my piece after reading your post and comments of members below. If you feel I missed the syllable count, please disqualify. Honestly, I went by my instinctive use of words and did not check the syllable rules. Congrats to all especially those you cited on this blog.
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Onclaud Avatar
Nette
Onclaud
Date: 1/23/2014 11:56:00 AM
andie: you have a point and i do too.. i checked howmanysyllables.com and syllablerules.com; ' beloved' has 3 syls ... i adore your piece and couldn't PM you as your entry was posted as the 32nd entry , i suppose... i did read it briefly twice and moved it to round 2.. on my last checks, i spotted the word and did a long count-work and web-search.. the contest was locked so i couldn't soupy anymore.. you are not the only one... i hope you got my point... huggs, dearie!
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Kendrick Avatar
Sara
Kendrick
Date: 1/23/2014 10:49:00 AM
The only sure way is to look each word in the dictionary..The dictionary is very accurate..Not a dictionary syllable counter but the dictionary itself..Sara
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Kendrick Avatar
Sara Kendrick
Date: 1/23/2014 10:50:00 AM
Thanks for the honor of placing in your contest..I enjoyed writing that poem from the one of the pictures there..Sara
Dietrich Avatar
Andrea
Dietrich
Date: 1/23/2014 8:10:00 AM
I could easily have fixed it if I knew it would be an issue. Sigh!! Anyway, Congrats to all your winners, Nette. It was a marvelous contest.
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Dietrich Avatar
Andrea
Dietrich
Date: 1/23/2014 8:02:00 AM
oh, come on!! Are you talking about the word Beloved?? The modern pronunciation would have to be only two. Because the old world pronounced it with three, but even today on movies I hear it pronounced also as "be-loved". Many dictionaries pronounce it both ways. I want everyone to know that I do not trust one source when I look at syllable counts. There does not exist a one reliable source. I am my own reliable source. If I can tell that the person had a reason to go with his/her syllable count, I usually let it go. You have our names. Just tell us what you are thinking in a case like this. Please, Nette, don't go by syllable counters. Go to the poets and ask them why they did it that way!
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Onclaud Avatar
Nette Onclaud
Date: 1/23/2014 12:03:00 PM
yes, i think you have a bright idea, andie.. we have to include the reference as footnote; i'll do the same... i have a npte for you above..thanks!
Dietrich Avatar
Andrea Dietrich
Date: 1/23/2014 8:12:00 AM
i just looked it up and it seems most people prefer the three syllable pronunciation in certain cases; however, there is not a firm rule about it having to be three . I was actually gonna make a note about it under my poem. WIsh I had done that now!
Williams Avatar
David
Williams
Date: 1/23/2014 7:06:00 AM
Nette, I agree it is a problem but I don't think there is any easy answer to this problem as dialect plays a big part not just language and unless someone is going to check every dialect that is entered into a contest then it will be impossible to get it correct, I tend to go with how I personally pronounce a word and if it is a great entree in to my contest only then will I check....
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Onclaud Avatar
Nette Onclaud
Date: 1/23/2014 12:08:00 PM
i get that really well.. the dipthongs of a word may change depending on how a word is pronounced in different countries, and even in america... i feel that checking a reliable site is important... :)

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Book: Reflection on the Important Things