Diphthong: Difference between revisions
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In [[phonetics]], a '''diphthong''' ([[Greek language|Greek]] ''δίφθογγος'', "diphthongos", literally "with two sounds") is a [[vowel]] combination |
In [[phonetics]], a '''diphthong''' ([[Greek language|Greek]] ''δίφθογγος'', "diphthongos", literally "with two sounds") is a [[vowel]] combination in a single syllable involving a [[glissando|quick but smooth movement]] from one vowel to another, often interpreted by listeners as a single vowel sound or [[phoneme]]. |
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While "pure" vowels, or ''[[monophthong]]s'', are said to have one target tongue position, diphthongs have |
While "pure" vowels, or ''[[monophthong]]s'', are said to have one target tongue position, diphthongs have two target tongue positions. |
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Pure vowels are represented in the [[International Phonetic Alphabet]] by one symbol: |
Pure vowels are represented in the [[International Phonetic Alphabet]] by one symbol: |
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English "sum" as {{IPA|[s&# |
English "sum" as {{IPA|[səm]}}, for example. |
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Diphthongs are represented by two symbols, for example English "same" as {{IPA|[seɪm]}}, |
Diphthongs are represented by two symbols, for example English "same" as {{IPA|[seɪm]}}, |
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where the two vowel symbols are intended to represent approximately the beginning |
where the two vowel symbols are intended to represent approximately the beginning |
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and ending tongue positions. |
and ending tongue positions. |
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'''Falling''' diphthongs |
'''Falling''' diphthongs start with a higher vowel, e.g., {{IPA|[iə]}}, while '''rising''' diphthongs end with a higher vowel, e.g., {{IPA|[ai]}}. In '''Closing''' diphthongs, the second element is [[vowel#vowel qualities|closer]] than the first; in '''opening''' diphthongs, more [[vowel#vowel qualities|opened]]. A '''centering''' diphthong is one that begins with a more peripheral vowel and ends with a more central one, such as {{IPA|[ɪə]}}, {{IPA|[ɛə]}}, and {{IPA|[ʊə]}} in [[Received Pronunciation|RP]] or {{IPA|[iə]}} and {{IPA|[uə]}} in [[Irish language|Irish]]. Some languages contrast '''short''' and '''long''' diphthongs. In [[Portuguese language|Portuguese]], diphthongs are divided, like the vowels, in two classes: oral and nasal. |
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The unstressed elements of the diphthongs may be transcribed as [[semivowel]]s. However, when the whole diphthong is analysed as being one single [[phoneme]], both elements are often transcribed as vowels. |
The unstressed elements of the diphthongs may be transcribed as [[semivowel]]s. However, when the whole diphthong is analysed as being one single [[phoneme]], both elements are often transcribed as vowels. |
Revision as of 18:00, 14 November 2005
In phonetics, a diphthong (Greek δίφθογγος, "diphthongos", literally "with two sounds") is a vowel combination in a single syllable involving a quick but smooth movement from one vowel to another, often interpreted by listeners as a single vowel sound or phoneme. While "pure" vowels, or monophthongs, are said to have one target tongue position, diphthongs have two target tongue positions. Pure vowels are represented in the International Phonetic Alphabet by one symbol: English "sum" as [səm], for example. Diphthongs are represented by two symbols, for example English "same" as [seɪm], where the two vowel symbols are intended to represent approximately the beginning and ending tongue positions.
Falling diphthongs start with a higher vowel, e.g., [iə], while rising diphthongs end with a higher vowel, e.g., [ai]. In Closing diphthongs, the second element is closer than the first; in opening diphthongs, more opened. A centering diphthong is one that begins with a more peripheral vowel and ends with a more central one, such as [ɪə], [ɛə], and [ʊə] in RP or [iə] and [uə] in Irish. Some languages contrast short and long diphthongs. In Portuguese, diphthongs are divided, like the vowels, in two classes: oral and nasal.
The unstressed elements of the diphthongs may be transcribed as semivowels. However, when the whole diphthong is analysed as being one single phoneme, both elements are often transcribed as vowels.
English
Diphthongs in the General American accent of English:
- [aʊ] as in house
- [aɪ] as in kite
- [eɪ] as in same
- [juː] as in few (This is phonemically analyzed as a sequence of a semivowel and a monophthong.)
- [oʊ] as in tone
- [ɔɪ] as in join
Diphthongs in the Received Pronunciation of British English:
- [əʊ] as in hope
- [aʊ] as in house
- [aɪ] as in kite
- [eɪ] as in same
- [juː] as in few (This is phonemically analyzed as a sequence of a semivowel and a monophthong.)
- [ɔɪ] as in join
- [ɪə] as in fear
- [ɛə] as in hair (In modern pronunciation this is usually the long vowel [ɛː].)
- [ʊə] as in poor
The latter three diphthongs also occur in the Boston accent.
(see International Phonetic Alphabet for English for more)
Italian
Diphthongs in standard Italian:
- falling diphthongs
- [ai] as in avrai
- [ei] as in dei (preposition)
- [ɛi] as in direi
- [oi] as in voi
- [ɔi] as in poi
- [au] as in pausa
- [eu] as in Europa
- [ɛu] as in feudo
- rising diphthongs
- [ja] as in piano
- [je] as in schietto
- [jɛ] as in piede
- [jo] as in fiore
- [jɔ] as in piove
- [ju] as in più
- [wa] as in guado
- [we] as in quello
- [wɛ] as in guerra
- [wi] as in qui
- [wo] as in tuorlo
- [wɔ] as in nuoto
Other combinations (including [ui], [iu], [ii]) are generally considered hiatuses by grammarians; however they are often phonetically true diphthongs, such as in poetry and common speech. Note also that rising diphthongs are considered not true diphthongs by many phoneticians, but sequences of a consonant and a vowel.
French
Some diphthongs in French:
- [wa] as in roi
- [wi] as in oui
- [ɥi] as in huit
- [jɛ̃] as in bien
- [jɛ] as in Ariège
Finnish
Diphthongs in Finnish
- [ai] as in laiva
- [ei] as in keinu
- [oi] as in poika
- [ui] as in uida
- [yi] as in lyijy
- [æi] as in äiti
- [øi] as in öisin
- [au] as in lauha
- [eu] as in leuto
- [iu] as in viulu
- [ou] as in koulu
- [ey] as in leyhyä
- [iy] as in siistiytyä
- [æy] as in täysi
- [øy] as in löytää
- [ie] as in kieli
- [uo] as in suo
- [yø] as in yö
German
Diphthongs in German:
- [aɪ] as in Reich
- [aʊ] as in Maus
- [ɔʏ] as in neu
Some diphthongs in Bernese, a Swiss German dialect:
- [iə] as in Bier 'beer'
- [yə] as in Füess 'feet'
- [uə] as in Schue 'shoes'
- [ow] as in Stou 'holdup'
- [aw] as in Stau 'stable'
- [aːw] as in Staau 'steel'
- [æw] as in Wäut 'world'
- [æːw] as in wääut 'elects'
- [ʊw] as in tschúud 'guilty'
Portuguese
Vowel combinations in Portuguese are divided into two groups: hiatus (hiato), a sequence of two random vowels, and diphthongs (ditongos), a sequence of a vowel and /i, u/, often called "semi-vowels". Just like the vowels, the diphthongs are divided into two subgroups: the oral diphthongs and the nasal diphtongs.
Diphthongs in Portuguese:
- oral
- [ai]
- [ɐi] (in Lisbon)
- [ei]
- [ɛi]
- [oi]
- [ɔi]
- [ui]
- [au]
- [eu]
- [ɛu]
- [iu] (parts of Brazil)
- [ou] (Northen Portugal, parts of Brazil)
- nasal
- [ɐ̃ĩ]
- [ẽĩ]
- [õĩ]
- [ũũ]
- [ɐ̃ũ]
Northern Sami
Diphthongs in Northern Sami
- [eæ] as in leat
- [ie] as in giella
- [oa] as in boahtit
- [uo] as in vuodjat
Romanian
Romanian builds its descending diphthongs using two semivowels and its ascending diphthongs using four. As there are no IPA symbols for semivocalic [e] and [o], in the following list the reversed circumflex accent was used to mark all semivowels. See also Romanian phonology.
Descending:
- [aǐ] as in mai
- [aǔ] as in dau
- [eǐ] as in lei
- [eǔ] as in leu
- [iǐ] as in mii (no vocalic glide, but still a diphthong)
- [iǔ] as in fiu
- [oǐ] as in goi
- [oǔ] as in nou
- [uǐ] as in pui
- [əǐ] as in răi
- [əǔ] as in rău
- [ɨǐ] as in câine
- [ɨǔ] as in râu
Ascending:
- [ěa] as in stea
- [ěo] as in George
- [ǐa] as in ziar
- [ǐe] as in fier
- [ǐo] as in chior
- [ǐu] as in iubit
- [ǒa] as in oameni
- [ǔa] as in ziua
- [ǔə] as in două
Spanish
Diphthongs in Spanish:
- falling diphthongs
- [ai] as in hay
- [ei] as in rey
- [oi] as in hoy
- [ui] as in muy
- [au] as in Jauja
- [eu] as in feudo
- rising diphthongs
- [ja] as in comedia
- [je] as in tierra
- [jo] as in dio
- [ju] as in ciudad
- [wa] as in guante
- [we] as in fuego
- [wi] as in pingüino
- [wo] as in ambiguo