Understanding Diphthongs
* Glide: The movement from one vowel to the next is smooth and quick, not abrupt.
* Unaccented and Accented: The "unaccented" vowel is the starting point and the "accented" vowel is the ending point of the glide.
* Pronunciation: It's not about pronouncing both vowels separately, but rather as a single, blended sound.
Examples:
* "oi" in "boy": Starts with the "o" sound (like in "hot") and glides towards the "i" sound (like in "see").
* "ow" in "cow": Starts with the "o" sound (like in "hot") and glides towards the "u" sound (like in "put").
* "au" in "house": Starts with the "a" sound (like in "father") and glides towards the "u" sound (like in "put").
Tips for Pronunciation:
1. Focus on the Glide: Practice the smooth transition from the starting vowel to the ending vowel.
2. Listen to Native Speakers: Pay attention to how native speakers pronounce words with diphthongs.
3. Use a Dictionary: Most dictionaries provide phonetic symbols that illustrate the pronunciation of diphthongs.
Common Diphthongs in English:
* "oi" /ɔɪ/: boy, coin, toy
* "ow" /aʊ/: cow, now, house
* "au" /aʊ/: house, mouse, out
* "ey" /eɪ/: say, they, play
* "ay" /eɪ/: day, may, stay
* "ee" /iː/: see, bee, tree (this is a long vowel, but often described as a diphthong)
Important Note: Diphthong pronunciation can vary slightly depending on regional accents and dialects.