Here's a breakdown:
* Monophthong: Single, unchanging vowel sound (like the "a" in "cat" or the "i" in "machine")
* Diphthong: A glide between two vowel sounds (like the "ou" in "house" or the "oi" in "boy")
Examples of monophthongs in English:
* Short vowels: /ɪ/ (bit), /ɛ/ (bet), /æ/ (bat), /ʌ/ (but), /ɒ/ (hot)
* Long vowels: /i:/ (see), /u:/ (moon), /ɑ:/ (car), /ɔ:/ (law), /ɜ:/ (bird)
Key characteristics of monophthongs:
* Single sound: They are produced with a single, consistent sound.
* Unchanging tongue position: The tongue remains in one position throughout the sound.
* No glides: There is no movement between different vowel sounds.
In contrast to diphthongs, which:
* Combine two sounds: They move from one vowel sound to another.
* Involve tongue movement: The tongue changes position during the sound.
* Create a glide: The movement of the tongue creates a gliding effect.
Understanding monophthongs is important for pronunciation, especially in languages like English where they form the basis of many vowel sounds.