Final answer:
To accurately determine the length of a phrase, count the strong stresses, which establish the meter of the poem. This method highlights the rhythmic pattern created by the alternation of stressed and unstressed syllables.
Step-by-step explanation:
When you want to know how long a phrase is, you can figure it out accurately, not by counting syllables, but by counting strong stresses. This approach reflects an understanding of the rhythmical pattern of a poem or text, which is called its meter. When analyzing poetry, you identify stressed and unstressed syllables to determine the meter. Stressed syllables contribute to the beat or meter and give poetry its rhythmic quality, akin to the rhythm found in music.
As we learn language through nursery rhymes or the alphabet through song, the meter driven by stressed syllables helps in acoustic encoding, making it easier to memorize and recall information. Similarly, musical notes and their rhythmic value, like quarter notes, are split into measures in a song, setting the foundation for the song's rhythm, crucial for timing and musical expression.