DIPHTHONG

English Phonology

Diphthong• A diphthong is a single sound produces when two vowels, one

dominant in duration and stress, are paired together in sequence.• Diphthong are not included on IPA charts because they are results of

pairing two pure vowels.• There are nine vowels in RP. There are two kinds of diphthong;

1. Closing diphthong The position directs to the close vowels

e.g. ei, ai, oi, au, ou 2. Centering Diphthong The position moves to the center vowels e.g. i∂, e∂, o∂, u∂

• But according to the classification of GAP, there are only five vowel sounds. They are : /ai/, /au/, / oi/, /ei/, and /ou//

• In all cases, the first vowel is longer in duration and exhibit more stress.

Aya's Prop/Int to Ling (2)

Aya's Prop/Int to Ling (2)

GAP Diphthongs

• It is important to note that the close combination of the two vowels causes each of the vowel to lose it’s purity.

• Diphthongs can be found in both open and closed syllables.

• In phonological patterns, diphthongs are labeled using a single vowel symbol because they act as one sound.

GAP Diphthongs

• /ai/ is an open, front, unrounded vowel moving to a near-close, front, unrounded vowel. The /a/ is longer in duration and forms the nucleus of diphthong, while /i/ is shorter and unstressed. e.g.time, fly

• /au/ is an open , front, unrounded vowel moving to a near-close, back, rounded vowel. The /a/ is a longer in duration and forms the nucleus of the diphthong, while/u/ is shorter and unstressed. e.g. cow, town

GAP Diphthongs

• /oi/ is a an open –mid back rounded vowel moving to near-close front, unrounded vowel. The /o/ is longer in duration and forms the nucleus of the diphthong, while/i/ is shorter and unstressed. e.g. boil, boy

• /ei/ is a close-mid, front, unrouded vowel moving to a near close, front, unrounded vowel. The /e/ is longer in duration and forms the nucleus on the diphthong, while /i/ is shorter and unstressed. e.g. brain, say

• The /e/ and /ei/ are used interchangeably by many GAP speakers.

GAP Diphthongs

• /ou/ is a close-mid, back, rounded vowel moving to a near-close, back rounded vowel. The /o/ is longer in duration and forms the nucleus of the diphthong, while the /u/ is shorter and unstressed. e.g. no, rose

• The /o/ and /ou/ are used interchangeably by many GAP speakers.

GAP Diphthongs

• Some authorities consider the /ju/ to be the sixth diphthong.

• The reasons are

1. it involves two phoneme : /j/ and /u/, which historically was a version of the /i/ vowel.

2. the /ju/ appears frequently together yet the /j/ is not paired with other vowels in GAP.

3. the /ju/ does not fit the consonant cluster category.

• However, there are reasons which do not consider /ju / as diphthong

1. it does not involve two vowels

2. the nuclei of the diphthong appears at the end, while the shorter duration of phoneme appears at the beginning.

• The /ju/ can be considered as diphthong or a common pairing of an approximant and a vowel.

• The examples are : use, you, new