Diphthongs in Phonetics

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Questions and Answers

What is the tongue position similar to when pronouncing the diphthong /ǝu/?

/3:/ (correct)

/a:/

/u:/

/ə/

What is the direction of the glide for the diphthong /au/?

Towards /u/ in the close-mid position (correct)

Towards /a/ in the open-mid position

Towards /ə/ in the close-open position

Towards /o/ in the open-back position

What is the movement of the lips for the diphthong /eǝ/?

From neutrally open to a strongly rounded position

From a rounded to a neutrally open position

From neutrally open to a weakly rounded position

Neutrally open throughout (correct)

What is the characteristic of the diphthong /1Ə/

It is a narrow and centering diphthong Signup and view all the answers

What is the tongue position for the starting point of the glide for the diphthong /au/?

Similar to the position for /a:/ or C[a] Signup and view all the answers

What is the characteristic of the diphthong /ǝu/ in terms of jaw movement?

Closing movement of the lower jaw Signup and view all the answers

What is the characteristic of the diphthong /1Ə/ in unaccented syllables?

It is not always falling Signup and view all the answers

What is the characteristic of the diphthong /au/ in terms of movement?

Requires extensive movement of the tongue Signup and view all the answers

What is the characteristic of the glide in the diphthong /нǝ/?

It begins with a tongue position of close mid and centralized from back and moves towards a more open variety of /ə/. Signup and view all the answers

What is the movement of the jaw in the diphthong /eı/?

A slight closing movement. Signup and view all the answers

What is the characteristic of the lips in the diphthong /нǝ/?

They are weakly rounded at the beginning and neutrally open as it progresses. Signup and view all the answers

What is the direction of the tongue movement in the diphthong /aı/?

From a point slightly behind the front open position towards the vowel /ı/. Signup and view all the answers

What is the characteristic of the lips in the diphthong /aı/?

They change from a neutral to a loosely spread position. Signup and view all the answers

What is the movement of the lower jaw in the diphthong /aı/?

A slight closing movement. Signup and view all the answers

What is the characteristic of the diphthong /oı/?

It does not require an extensive movement of the tongue. Signup and view all the answers

What is the characteristic of the diphthong /еı/?

It is a narrow diphthong. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Diphthong /ǝu/

Glide: begins between mid-open and mid-close positions, moving towards /u/ above mid-close position
Jaw: slight closing movement of lower jaw
Lips: neutral for 1st element, 2nd element lips tend to round
Starting point: tongue position similar to /3:/

Diphthong /au/

Glide: begins between back and front open position, moving towards vowel /u/ above close-mid position
Lips: change from neutrally open to a weakly rounded position
Jaw: closing movement
Long: loud, Reduced: shout
Pulmonic, voiced, oral, wide, falling, closing

Diphthong /eǝ/

Glide: begins in open-mid front position, moving towards more open variety of /a/ when in final position
In non-final position, it tends to glide to a mid /ə/ type
Lips: neutrally open
Pulmonic, voiced, oral, narrow, falling, centering

Diphthong /1Ə/

Glide: begins with tongue position of close mid and centralized from front, moving towards more open variety of /ə/
In non-final position, the glide is not so extensive
Lips: neutral, with slight movement from slightly spread to neutral
In unaccented syllables, it is not always falling
Pulmonic, voiced, oral, falling or rising, centering, narrow

Diphthong /нǝ/

Glide: begins with tongue position of close mid and centralized from back, moving towards more open variety of /ə/
In non-final position, the glide is not so extensive
Lips: weakly rounded at the beginning of the glide and neutrally open as it progresses
In unaccented syllables, this diphthong may be rising
Pulmonic, voiced, oral, narrow, centering, falling or rising

Diphthong /eı/

Glide: begins from slightly below close-mid front position, moving towards /ı/
Jaw: slightly closing movement
Quality: starting point is somewhat closer than vowel /e/
Lips: goes from neutral to slightly spread position
No change of phoneme in final position
Pulmonic, voiced, oral, narrow, closing, falling

Diphthong /aı/

Glide: begins slightly behind front open position, moving towards vowel /ı/
Requires extensive movement of the tongue
Lower jaw: closing movement
Lips: change from neutral to loosely spread position
Before dark /l/, the /ı/ element is often absorbed into the /ə/ or /u/ glide
No change of phoneme in final position
Pulmonic, voiced, oral, falling, closing, wide

Diphthong /oı/

Glide: begins between open-mid and open-back positions, moving towards vowel /ı/
Tongue movement: extends from back to centralized front
Does not require extensive movement of the tongue
Pulmonic, voiced, oral, falling, closing

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Description

Identify and describe the characteristics of English diphthongs, including glides, jaw movement, and lip positions.