mˈoʊst əv ðə kˌæɹɪktɚɹˈɪstɪks ðæt dɪstˈɪŋɡwɪʃ ɪt fɹʌm ˈʌðɚ fˈɔːɹmz ʌv ˈʌɾɚɹəns ɹˈɪðəm, ɹˈaɪm, kəmpɹˈɛʃən, ɪntˈɛnsᵻɾi ʌv fˈiːlɪŋ, ðə jˈuːs ʌv ɹᵻfɹˈeɪnz ɐpˈɪɹ tə hæv kˈʌm ɐbˌaʊt fɹʌm ˈɛfɚts tə fˈɪt wˈɜːdz tə mjˈuːzɪkəl fˈɔːɹmz.
Most of the characteristics that distinguish it from other forms of utterance – rhythm, rhyme, compression, intensity of feeling, the use of refrains – appear to have come about from efforts to fit words to musical forms.