Lec 4

• Monophthong


  Pure vowel - a vowel sound whose quality doesn't change within the same syllable, as in 'he' /hiː/
• Diphthong


  A vowel sound that changes from one quality to another within the same syllable, as in 'hi' /haɪ/
• Triphthong


  A vowel sound that changes successively through three qualities within the same syllable, as in 'higher' /haɪǝ/
• Triphthongs


  • The most complex English vowel type
• Diphthongs


  • Similar in length to long vowels, but the first part is much longer and stronger than the second
• Centering diphthongs


  Diphthongs that glide towards the ə (schwa) vowel
• Centering diphthongs


  • /iə/ as in 'beard', 'weird', 'fierce'
  • /eə/ as in 'aired', 'cairn', 'scare'
  • /Ʊə/ as in 'moored', 'tour', and 'lure'
• Closing diphthongs ending with /ɪ/


  • /eɪ/ as in 'paid', 'pain', 'face'
  • /aɪ/ as in 'tide', 'time', 'nice'
  • /ɔɪ/ as in 'void', 'loin', 'voice'
• Closing diphthongs with ə


  1. eɪ+ə = eɪə as in 'layer', 'player'

  2. aɪ+ə = aɪə as in 'liar', 'fire'

  3. ɔɪ+ə = ɔɪə as in 'loyal', 'royal'

  4. əƱ+ə = əƱə as in 'lower', 'mower'

  5. aƱ+ə = aƱə as in 'power', 'hour'