In this video we will talk about how to pronounce the Diphthongs.
Diphthongs
Diphthongs are the sounds represented by the symbols in red. There are 8 of them on the phonetic chart and these are the main ones that you need to know about. So what is a Diphthong? Diphthongs are a type of vowel sound that is made up of a combination of two single vowels or monophthongs within the same syllable.
Each column is arranged according to the second sound in the Diphthong. In the first column each sound ends with a /ə/ sound
- /ɪə/
- /ʊə/
- /eə/
In the second column each sound ends with an /ɪ/ or /i:/ sound.
- /eɪ/
- /ɔɪ/
- /aɪ/
And in the third column each sound ends with an /ʊ/ or /u:/ sound.
- /əʊ/
- /aʊ/
Remember!
Remember that the key to pronunciation is physical, and the Diphthongs are a combination of 2 vowel sounds. So your mouth will change position as you say the sound.
Lets look at all the Diphthongs.
First of all lets look at /ɪə/.
This is a combination of /ɪ/ and /ə/, but it’s pronounced within one syllable, /ɪə/. The /ɪ/ sound is on the top row of the vowels section of the phonetic chart and the /ə/ is on the second row. The main physical difference between the sounds on the top row and the sounds on the second row is that your mouth should be a little more open for the second row sounds.
So as you say/ɪə/, you mouth should open a little. Starting on the /ɪ/ and finishing on the/ə/, /ɪə/ As in the words;
- Year
- Here
- Really
Lets look at the next one. This is a combination of /ʊ/ and /ə/, /ʊə/. Again your mouth should open a little as you go from the first sound to the second sound. Starting on the /ʊ/ and finishing on the /ə/. /ʊə/. As in the words;
- Hour
- Security
- and During
The next sound is a combination of /e/ and /ə/, /eə/. This time both the vowels are on the same row so the mouth does not open, the main difference is the shape of our lips and the origin of the sound in our throat. Starting on the /e/ and finishing on the/ə/, /eə/. As in the words;
- There
- Where
- Parent
Moving onto the second column, now each sound ends with the vowel sound /ɪ/, although sometimes the sound is longer like /i:/, In reality it is somewhere between the two, it depends on the word.
When we say the diphthongs sound in isolation, we will normally say it like the longer form.
- they
- point
- I
The first sound in this column is/eɪ/ which is a combination of /e/ and /ɪ/ or /i:/. This time we need to close our mouth a little as we say the sound. /eɪ/. As in the words;
- They
- Say
- Make
The next sound is point/ɔɪ/ which is a combination of /ɔ:/ and /ɪ/ or /i:/. They are on different rows again but the shape of our lips and the position of our tongue also change a lot because we are going from the right all the way to the left. Going from rounded lips or to unrounded. Starting on the/ɔ:/ and finishing on the /ɪ/ or /i:/: /ɔɪ/. As in the words;
- Point
- Boy
- Oil
The next sound is /aɪ/ which is a combination of /æ/ and /ɪ/ or /i:/. Now we are going from the bottom row to the top so our mouth starts wide open and closes as we say the sound.
Starting on the /æ/ and finishing on the/ɪ/ or /i:/. As in the words;
- I
- By
- Time
The next sound is /əʊ/ which is a combination of /ə/ and /ʊ/ or the longer /u:/. The main difference here is the shape of the lips, rounding a little as we say the sound. Starting on the /ə/ and finishing on the /ʊ/ or /u:/ sound. As in the words;
- Go
- Know
- Only
The last of the diphthongs that we are going to look at is /aʊ/ which is a combination of /æ/ and /ʊ/ or the longer /u:/. Now our mouth is closing and the shape of the lips is changing at the same time, rounding a little as we say the sound.
Starting on the have and finishing on the would or /ʊ/ or /u:/. As in the words;
- Out
- How
- Down
So that is all the diphthongs. Thanks for watching. I hope you found it useful.