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 its 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 nearclose 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