ABSTRACT
Yet the awareness of a distinct identity found a further outlet in literature with the creation of a uniquely Vietnamese prosodic pattern, the lục-bát or 6-8 foot couplet. Well suited to easy memorising and to almost indefinite addition without becoming monotonous, it is a simple form based on word rhyme and tone harmony (Huard & Durand 1965:290sgg.) and is used by most ca-dao.
