Question

The number of vowel glides in English is ;

• A. 24
• B. 8
• C. 12
• D. 20

Answer 1

Answer:

B. 8

Understanding Vowel Glides in English Phonetics

What are Vowel Glides (Semivowels)?

• Vowel glides, also known as semivowels or approximants, are speech sounds that share characteristics of both vowels and consonants.
• They are produced with a relatively open vocal tract, similar to vowels, but they move quickly into a following vowel sound, much like a consonant anticipates a vowel.
• In English, vowel glides are typically represented by the letters 'y' and 'w' when they function as consonants.

The Eight Vowel Glides in English:

• The number of vowel glides in English is eight. These are often categorized as diphthongs, which are vowel sounds that involve a glide from one vowel articulation to another within the same syllable.
• These are often represented by combinations of vowel letters, but their pronunciation is a single, smooth transition.
• The eight diphthongs are:
1. /aɪ/ as in 'my', 'ice', 'light'
2. /ɔɪ/ as in 'boy', 'coin', 'noise'
3. /aʊ/ as in 'now', 'out', 'house'
4. /eɪ/ as in 'say', 'rain', 'make'
5. /oʊ/ (or /əʊ/ in some accents) as in 'go', 'boat', 'home'
6. /ɪə/ as in 'near', 'ear', 'here'
7. /eə/ as in 'hair', 'pair', 'there'
8. /ʊə/ as in 'pure', 'tour', 'cure' (This diphthong is becoming less common and may be pronounced as a monophthong in many modern accents).

Relevance for Competitive Exams:

• Phonetic Transcription: Understanding diphthongs is crucial for questions involving phonetic transcription (using the International Phonetic Alphabet - IPA).
• Pronunciation and Spelling: These sounds can cause confusion because they are represented by various spelling patterns. Recognizing them helps in understanding pronunciation rules and exceptions.
• Linguistic Knowledge: A solid grasp of phonetics, including vowel glides, is often tested in sections related to English grammar, linguistics, and teaching methodologies.
• Distinguishing Sounds: Differentiating between monophthongs (single vowel sounds) and diphthongs is a common area of questioning in phonetics.
• Standard English Pronunciation: Knowledge of these eight diphthongs reflects an understanding of Received Pronunciation (RP) or General American, which are often considered standard in exam contexts.