Assonance. Sound harmony

Assonance is the real magic of sound that imperceptibly transforms ordinary words into music. When we hear poetic lines that sound particularly melodic, it is often the assonance that is behind it. But what makes this technique so special, and why is it so important in speech and literature?

Assonance is the repetition of the same or similar vowel sounds in closely spaced words. It can occur both in the middle and at the beginning of words, but its key feature is to create a sound effect that affects the perception of the text. For example, let's take the following line: «Green green seeds». The repeated sound «e» creates a sense of melody and enhances the rhythm, giving the phrase a special sound.

In a broad sense, assonance is not only a tool of poetics, but also one of the basic elements of language, which makes our speech more expressive and rich. Sometimes we don't even realize how often we use it in everyday language, but it's what makes our words more lively and emotionally charged.

It is worth noting that assonance is often confused with rhyme, but there is a significant difference between them. Rhyme is based on repeating the same sounds at the end of words, as, for example, in poems: «winter - spring». Assonance works inside words or lines, creating an internal sound harmony that gives the text a special color.

While rhyme is more commonly used to connect lines and create structure in verse, assonance provides the text with a rhythmic melody that keeps the reader in a certain emotional state. For example, in Lesya Ukrainka's poem: «Get up, who is alive, in whom the thought has risen», we see assonance on «a», which emphasizes the calling tone and adds energy to the text.

In literature, assonance is used to achieve various artistic effects. It can emphasize certain emotions, create an atmosphere or even increase the content emphasis on individual words. For example, in lines where deep, heavy sounds are repeated, assonance can create a sense of sadness or melancholy. Instead, repeated light sounds can cause a feeling of joy or lightness.

Let's recall classical Ukrainian poetry. Taras Shevchenko, Ivan Franko, Lesya Ukrainka - these authors often used assonance in their works, adding emotional saturation to them. For example, in Shevchenko's poem «Sadok cherry circle hut», we hear a soft assonance on the sounds «o» and «», which enhances a calm, dreamy mood.

Not only poets and writers use assonance. This technique is actively used in advertising, where you need to create a memorable slogan. A good example is the slogan «Kyivstar is your star provider», where repeating the sounds «and» and «a» gives the phrase melodiousness and makes it easy to remember.

Assonance can also be found in brand names that sound harmonious and easy to pronounce. For example, the name of the car «Mazda» sounds simple and melodic thanks to the repetition of the vowels «a». Such techniques make the brand more memorable and aurally pleasing.

In folk art, assonance was used long before it was defined as a stylistic technique. In Ukrainian folk songs and fairy tales, repeated vowel sounds often helped to preserve rhythm and melody. For example, in lullabies, where soft repeated sounds create a calming effect for the child.

Assonance can also be found in folk proverbs and sayings, which are often remembered precisely because of their melodiousness. Phrases like «Who gets up early, so God gives» have a natural rhythm and rhyme, making them easy to remember.

In everyday life, we do not always notice assonance, but it is constantly present in our language, giving it melodiousness. It can affect our emotions, help convey mood or even make certain words more convincing.

After all, assonance – is not just a language technique. It is the key to sonic harmony, which adds beauty not only to literature but also to our everyday language. It is that invisible thread that binds the words, making them a melody that resonates in our hearts.