Which of these is a diphthong?
A/æ/
B/aɪ/
C/ʊ/
D/e/
Answer:
B. /aɪ/
Read Explanation:
Understanding Diphthongs in English Phonetics
- A diphthong (from Greek dis 'twice' and phthongos 'sound') is a single vowel sound that begins with one vowel quality and smoothly glides into another within the same syllable. It is often referred to as a 'gliding vowel'.
- Unlike monophthongs (pure vowels where the tongue position remains fixed), the tongue moves during the articulation of a diphthong.
- This movement creates a distinct sound quality that is a combination of two vowel sounds perceived as a single unit.
The Diphthong /aɪ/
- The sound /aɪ/ is a prime example of a closing diphthong in English.
- It begins with an open vowel sound, similar to the 'a' in 'father' (though typically shorter in duration), and then glides towards the high front vowel sound /ɪ/ (as in 'sit').
- Words that contain the /aɪ/ diphthong include:
- buy
- my
- tie
- life
- high
- eye
Common English Diphthongs for Competitive Exams
There are typically eight major diphthongs in standard English (Received Pronunciation):
- Centering Diphthongs (glide towards the central vowel /ə/):
- /ɪə/ as in 'near', 'fear'
- /eə/ as in 'hair', 'stare'
- /ʊə/ as in 'tour', 'poor' (Note: /ʊə/ is becoming less common and is often pronounced as a monophthong /ɔː/ in modern RP.)
- Closing Diphthongs (glide towards /ɪ/ or /ʊ/):
- /eɪ/ as in 'face', 'day'
- /oʊ/ (or /əʊ/ in RP) as in 'goat', 'snow'
- /aɪ/ as in 'my', 'time'
- /ɔɪ/ as in 'boy', 'joy'
- /aʊ/ as in 'now', 'house'
Relevance for Competitive Exams
- Understanding diphthongs is fundamental to phonology and phonetics, which are core components of English Language sections in many competitive exams.
- Candidates are often tested on their ability to:
- Identify different vowel sounds (monophthongs vs. diphthongs).
- Transcribe words using the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA).
- Distinguish between similar-sounding words (minimal pairs) based on their phonetic distinctions.
- Recognize the correct pronunciation of words.
- Mastering the IPA symbols for these sounds is crucial for scoring well in such sections.