DEFINITION CLASSIFICATION TRIPHTHONGS

I) DEFINITION:
WHAT iS A
DIPHTHONG?

A diphthong is a complex sound. This is a combination of

two vowels pronounced within one syllable.
In the pronunciation of a diphthong, the organs of speech
start in the position of one vowel and glide in the direction
of another vowel.
Diphthongs have the same length as the long vowels.
 The first element of an English diphthong is called
the nucleus. It is strong, clear and distinct.

The second element is rather weak. It is called

glide.

The first part (sound) is much longer and

stronger than the second part.

Example:
‘’aɪ’’ in the words ‘eye’ consists of the
/%/vowel and the glide to /ɪ/. As the glide
to /ɪ/ happens, the loudness of the sound
decreases. As a result, the /ɪ/ part is shorter
and quieter.
 II) CLASSIFICATION:
The total number of diphthongs is eight.

Diphthongs can be classified into three groups

based on the sound end of a diphthong. Or they
can also be classified into Closing diphthong
(ending either in /ɪ/ or /ʊ/) and Centering
diphthong ( ending in /ə/).
 DIPHTHONGS

centring closing

ending in ə ending in ɪ ending in ʊ

ɪ6 eə ʊə eɪ aɪ ɔɪ əʊ aʊ

5
Group 1.1 : Closing diphthong
This is a-retracting; Sounds that end in /u/
ex: now, go, show, town.
your tongue
moves to:

Group 1.2 :
This is b-fronting. Sounds that end in /ɪ/
ex: eye, why, say, day, destroy.
your tongue
moves to:

Group 2.2 : centering diphthong

This is c- centering. Sounds that end in /ə/
Ex: hear, near
your tongue
moves to:
 pronouncing diphthongs
/6å/ as in "oh", "no", "so" or "phone". The starting position is the
neutral vowel sound. To start in this way, the tongue should be fixed in
mid central position in your mouth with lips relaxed.
To make the diphthong, from the centre to the back moving your
relaxed lips into a tighter small round aperture. Your cheeks should
move in a bit!

as in all the words of "How, now, brown, cow!“

The starting position is the vowel sound /%/ as in "at" "bad"
or "rat" with tongue front but also low (ie mouth open).
To make the diphthong the journey for your tongue from
front low (mouth very open). Your jaw will move a lot too.
 as in day, pay, say, lay.

The starting position is with tongue

in mid position at front of mouth as in "egg", "bed" or "Ted".
Therefore you move the tongue up to make the diphthong.
as in sky, buy, cry, tie.

The starting position is , the same sound as in "cat".

To make the diphthong you need a big jaw movement,
moving the tongue from front open to and front close.

as in boy, toy, coy or the first syllable of soya.

The starting position is , the sound in "door" or "or".

Your tongue needs to be low, but you need to pull it back and
make your mouth round.
To make the diphthong, you relax the lip rounding
and
 Centring:
as in beer (the drink), pier, hear.
The starting position is as in "if" or "pit" with tongue front
is high and lips relaxed.
as in bear (the animal), pair and hair.

The starting position is as in "egg" or "bed" with tongue

in mid position at front of mouth.
To make the diphthong, pull your tongue slightly back from mid front to
the mid central position in your mouth.

as in "tour", "poor" or the first syllable of "tourist“.

The starting position is with tongue pulled back

but small mouth aperture as in "hook", "book" or "look".
To make the diphthong, tongue goes from the back position to the
mid central position, the lip rounding and relaxing your mouth.
A Triphthong is our traditional diphthong and adding the other
sound particularly this /ə/ .

A triphthong is a glide from one vowel to two other vowels,

all produced rapidly and without interruption.
A careful pronunciation of the word 'hour' begins with a vowel quality similar to 'ɑ:
goes on to 'ʊ' then ends in 'ə'.
• It says /aʊə/

• Triphthong : 5 closing diphthongs with 'ə' added on the end.

- eɪ + ə = eɪə . as in layer, player
- - aɪ + ə = aɪə. as in lire, fire
- - ɔɪ + ə = ɔɪə, as in loyal, royal
-- əʊ + ə = əuə, as in lower, mower
-- aʊ + ə = auə, as in power, hour.
 Thank you
for
your attention