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Pronunciation Task3

The document discusses diphthongs, which are vowel combinations pronounced in a single syllable. There are two types of diphthongs: centering diphthongs, where the tongue moves towards the center of the mouth; and closing diphthongs, where the tongue moves towards the back or top of the mouth. Examples of different diphthongs are provided, along with exercises identifying diphthongs in words. A monophthong is defined as a single, unchanging vowel sound, whereas a diphthong involves a glide between two vowel sounds within one syllable.

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Theodora Kegiye
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64 views2 pages

Pronunciation Task3

The document discusses diphthongs, which are vowel combinations pronounced in a single syllable. There are two types of diphthongs: centering diphthongs, where the tongue moves towards the center of the mouth; and closing diphthongs, where the tongue moves towards the back or top of the mouth. Examples of different diphthongs are provided, along with exercises identifying diphthongs in words. A monophthong is defined as a single, unchanging vowel sound, whereas a diphthong involves a glide between two vowel sounds within one syllable.

Uploaded by

Theodora Kegiye
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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1.

After you read this handout and other sources, explain briefly what do you mean by
diphthongs?

Answer: A diphthong is a combination of two vowels pronounced in one syllable. One of the
vowels is usually more dominant than the others. Diphthongs often produce a different sound
than a single vowel and occur when the tongue moves from one vowel position to another
within a syllable.

2. What is the different between centering and closing diphthongs?

Answer: Centering diphthongs and closing diphthongs are two different types of
diphthongs based on the movement of the tongue and mouth during their
pronunciation:

1. Centering Diphthongs:
- Centering diphthongs occur when the tongue moves towards the center of the
mouth during pronunciation.
- These diphthongs typically involve a transition from a more open to a more neutral
position.
- Examples of centering diphthongs include /ər/ in words like "her" and "nurse"
and /əɪ/ in words like "eye" and "high."
- The tongue moves towards the center of the mouth during the articulation of
centering diphthongs.

2. Closing Diphthongs:
- Closing diphthongs occur when the tongue moves towards a more closed or
constricted position during pronunciation.
- These diphthongs involve a transition from a more open or neutral position to a
more closed or rounded one.
- Examples of closing diphthongs include /aɪ/ in words like "high" and "bye" and
/oʊ/ in words like "go" and "more."
- The tongue moves towards the back or top of the mouth, resulting in a closing or
rounding effect.

3. Make 5 examples for each of 8 English diphthongs!


Answer:
● /ɪə/ : tear, fear, near, hear, steer

● /eɪ/ : way, day, train, same, make

● /ʊə/ : pure, sure, insecure, cure, ensure

● /ɔɪ/ : coin, join, boy, noise, point

● /əʊ/ : coat, flow, show, home, boat


● /eə/ : dear, where, care, bear, share

● /aɪ/ : five, light, sky, buy, lay

● /aʊ/ : now, know, town, cow, cloud


4. Identify the diphthong sounds of the following words:
a. serious - /ɪə/ f. career - /ɪə/
b. square - /eə/ g. beautiful - /ɪə/
c. obey - /eɪ/ h. tour - /ʊə/
d. chair - /eə/ i. pray - /eɪ/
e. brown - /aʊ/ j. Cowboy - /ɔɪ/

5. What is meant by Monophthong? And what is the different between a monophthong


and a diphthong?

Answer: A monophthong is a single, unchanging vowel sound that is produced


without gliding or changing quality within the same syllable. In other words, it's a
vowel sound that remains constant throughout its pronunciation. Examples of
monophthongs in English include the vowel sounds in words like "bed," "hot," and
"cat."

A diphthong is a combination of two vowel sounds within the same syllable, where
the pronunciation glides or moves from one vowel sound to another. This creates a
single, complex sound. Examples of diphthongs in English include the vowel sounds
in words like "boy," "coin," and "loud."

So, the main difference between a monophthong and a diphthong lies in whether the
vowel sound remains constant (monophthong) or changes or glides from one vowel
sound to another within the same syllable (diphthong).

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