Prof. R.

Paderni

Formal description of diphthongs.

General description of English diphthongs

centre

front

Prominence of the element:

falling: (diminuendo) the first element is more

prominent than the second one.
rising: (crescendo) the second element is more
prominent than the first one. Only and in
unstressed position can be rising.
e.g. serious influence
By default, all English diphthongs are falling.

close

back

mid-close

mid-open

open

Triphthong:. Especially closing diph

Smoothing: elision of the second element.

Direction of the movement of the tongue:

closing glide:
centring glide:

Length variations in diphthongs are governed by

narrow diph: short glide

wide diph: long glide

the same rules as length variations affecting the

relatively long pure vowels.
The quantity variants of the English falling
diphthongs mainly affect the first element.

Quality

Allophones. Diphthongs share some

1. Part of the tongue raised the highest; 2. Height

of the tongue; 3. Lips posture (us. the same as the first
pure vowel); 4. Opening bet. the jaws; 5. Tenseness;
6. Position of the soft palate; 7. Voicing.

characteristics of long vowels.

They are fully long before lenis sound and in
final position
They undergoe the process of Pre-fortis clipping:
shortened before a fortis consonant or a
nasal/liquid + fortis cons.

Distance bet. the first and second element:

Phonological distribution
All diphthongs occur in initial (except ), mid,
and final position.
Diphthongs do not occur before except where
word-final /n/ is assimilated to

Spelling-to-sound rules, and exceptions.

Rules that determine wich letter or combination
of letters correspond to the pronunciation of the
diphthong described.
.

English diphthong:
Highest part of the tongue:
Height of the tongue:
Lips position:
Opening bet. the jaws:
Tenseness:
Soft palate:
Vocal folds:

centre

front

Quality
centre
bet. Open-m & C-mid
neutrally to weakly rounded

closed (midC to C)
tense
raised
vibration

Prominence:

falling
Glide:

central-closing
Distance:

narrow

Length:

Phonological distribution

Spelling-to-sound rules

Initial position: own

Mid position: broke
Final position: toe
does not normally occur before

<ow>
<oa>
<o>
<ou>
<oe>

Triphthong: as lower
Smoothing: slower

Allophones (different varation or realization)

Fully long before lenis sound and in final position

go

Shortened before a fortis consonant or a
nasal/liquid + fortis cons. (Pre-fortis clipping)
post
boat

close

long

back

mid-close

mid-open
open

know
oak
broke
shoulder
toe

Minority spelling (exceptions)

<oo> brooch
<ew> sew
I know that he hit an oak and broke his
shoulder and toe

Prof. R. Paderni

Formal description of diphthongs.

English diphthong:
Highest part of the tongue:
Height of the tongue:
Lips position:
Opening bet. the jaws:
Tenseness:
Soft palate:
Vocal folds:

centre

front

Quality

Prominence:

the front
close-mid
spread
closed /closing
tense
raised
vibration

falling
Glide:

front-closing
Distance:

back

mid-close

mid-open

narrow
Length:

long

Phonological distribution

Spelling-to-sound rules

Initial position: aim

Mid position: fame
Final position: pay
does not normally occur before

<a>
<ai>
<ay>
<ei>
<ey>
<ea>

Triphthong: as in player
Smoothing: greyer

close

open

ape, ache, late, make, lady, waste, base

waist, rail, aim, rain
(mid-position)
day, may
(final-position)
eight, veil, weigh, rein
they, whey, prey, hey!
great, steak, break

Minority spelling (exceptions)

<au> gauge
<ao> gaol
French-ending words
<e> fete, caf
<et> ballet, sachet
<e> matine, fiance
You have to pay straight away eight
dollars to see the great cake

cf. lair layer homophones

Allophones (different varation or realization)

Fully long before lenis sound and in final position

main lay
Shortened before a fortis consonant or a
nasal/liquid + fortis cons. (Pre-fortis clipping)
mate
faint

English diphthong:
Quality
Highest part of the tongue: the back
Height of the tongue:
mid-O glides near mid-C
Lips position:
open rounded to neutral
Opening bet. the jaws:
medium
Tenseness:
tense
Soft palate:
raised
Vocal folds:
vibration

front
Prominence:

falling
Glide:

back-closing
Distance:

first element slightly

rounded bet. and

centre

long

Phonological distribution

Spelling-to-sound rules

Initial position: oil

Mid position: coin
Final position: boy
does not normally occur before

<oi> boil, noise, choice

<oy> toy, oyster, joy

Triphthong: as in loyal
Smoothing: employer
cf. lair layer homophones

Allophones (different varation or realization)

Fully long before lenis sound and in final position

soil
Roy
Shortened before a fortis consonant or a
nasal/liquid + fortis cons. (Pre-fortis clipping)
voice
point

close

wide
Length:

back

mid-close

mid-open
open

Minority spelling (exceptions)

<uoy> buoy
Dont destroy the coin to pay the buoy

Prof. R. Paderni

Formal description of diphthongs.

English diphthong:
Highest part of the tongue:
Height of the tongue:
Lips position:
Opening bet. the jaws:
Tenseness:
Soft palate:
Vocal folds:

centre

front

Quality

Prominence:

behind the front

fully open
neutral loosely spread
wide to medium
tense
raised
vibration

falling
front-closing
Distance:

mid-close

mid-open

wide
Length:

long

Phonological distribution

Spelling-to-sound rules

Initial position: ice

Mid position: rise
Final position: tie
does not normally occur before

<i>
<y>
<igh>
<ie>

Triphthong: as in tired
Smoothing: fire

Minority spelling (exceptions)

<eye> eye
<ei> either, height, neither
<ais> aisle
<uy> buy
<ig> design, sign
<ae> maestro

Allophones (different varation or realization)

Fully long before lenis sound and in final position

time
pie

Shortened before a fortis consonant or a
nasal/liquid + fortis cons. (Pre-fortis clipping)
pipe advice tight

close

Glide:

back

open

write, hide, pile

dry, cycle, fly
high, night, right
die, lie, tie

The sky might be quite wild

English diphthong:
Quality
Highest part of the tongue: centre
Height of the tongue:
open
neutrally open to weakly rounded
Lips position:
wide
to medium
Opening bet. the jaws:
tense
Tenseness:
raised
Soft palate:
vibration
Vocal folds:

centre

front
Prominence:

falling
Glide:

closing
Distance:

wide
Length:

long

Phonological distribution

Spelling-to-sound rules

Initial position: owl

Mid position: loud
Final position: cow
does not normally occur before

<ou> house
<ow> flower, allow

Triphthong: as in tower
Smoothing: shower

Minority spelling (exceptions)

<au> ablaut
<eo> Macleod
We found a flower

Allophones (different varation or realization)

Fully long before lenis sound and in final position

found how
Shortened before a fortis consonant or a
nasal/liquid + fortis cons. (Pre-fortis clipping)
shout
mouth

close

back

mid-close

mid-open
open

Centring diphthongs
.

English diphthong:
centre

front

Quality
Highest part of the tongue: centre
Height of the tongue:
open
neutrally open to weakly rounded
Lips position:
wide
to medium
Opening bet. the jaws:
tense
Tenseness:
raised
Soft palate:
vibration
Vocal folds:

Prominence:

falling
Glide:

closing
Distance:

wide
Length:

long

Phonological distribution

Spelling-to-sound rules

Initial position: owl

Mid position: loud
Final position: cow
does not normally occur before

<ou> house
<ow> flower, allow

to

..
d
e
u
n
i
t
be con

Triphthong: as in tower
Smoothing: shower

Allophones (different varation or realization)

Fully long before lenis sound and in final position

found how
Shortened before a fortis consonant or a
nasal/liquid + fortis cons. (Pre-fortis clipping)
shout
mouth

close

back

Minority spelling (exceptions)

<au> ablaut
We found a flower

mid-close

mid-open
open