Ictus and Non-ictus

Ictus and Non-Ictus

According to Tarlinskaja (1976: 2) “[t]he strong position [in meter] is called the ictus (conventionally designated by [–]), the weak position is called the non-ictus (conventionally designated [∪]). The strong position equals one syllable, the weak position 1-2 syllables. The ictuses are usually filled up by phonologically marked syllables (long ones as in ancient Greek or Latin verse, or stressed ones, as in English, German or Russian verse), while non-ictuses – by phonologically non-marked syllables (short or unstressed). Repeated combinations of an ictus and a non-ictus in a metrical sequence are known as feet.”

When talking about verse, it is important to bear in mind that ictus and stress are different categories since stress refers to the concrete realisation and ictus to an abstract metrical level, as you find visualised in this diagram. Yet, stress and ictus may correlate, of course, and frequently do so. Tarlinskaja (1976: 3) uses the following nomenclature to describe the relationship between stress and ictus: “A stress on an ictus is called ictic or metrical, on a non-ictus, non-ictic or extra-metrical.”

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