Assonanssi

Assonanssi, or assonance, is a literary device in which vowel sounds are repeated within close proximity, usually within or across lines of verse. It emphasizes musicality by focusing on vowels rather than consonants. It is distinct from alliteration, which repeats initial consonants, and from rhyme, which connects endings of words.

Assonanssi can be exact, repeating the same vowel sound, or approximate, repeating similar vowel qualities. It can occur within a single line or across lines, and it often involves stressed syllables, contributing to rhythm and mood as well as cohesion in the text.

In poetry, assonanssi is used to bind lines together, intensify a desired emotional effect, or create sonic texture that guides the reader's ear. It appears in many languages and media, including lyrics, prose-poems, and advertising.

In Finnish literature and linguistic studies, assonanssi is a recognized device, with attention paid to how vowel quality and length affect perceived musicality. While common in many European poetic traditions, its play with vowels can be especially subtle in Finnish, where vowel harmony and long vowels shape sound patterns.

Example: A classic English illustration is "The rain in Spain stays mainly in the plain," where the "ai" sound recurs. In Finnish, researchers describe assonanssi as the deliberate repetition of vowel sounds across nearby words to produce a singable, cohesive effect.