English Diphthongs - Phonetics I

Sample Questions

1. Question: Which of these words includes diphthong /əʊ/?

   Answer: Though

2. Question: DEFINITION _______: a sequence of vowel sounds whose production involves the tongue changing positions.

   Answer: Diphthong

3. Question: Diphthongs are said to be constituted by two elements and are classified as oral, voiced, and they are defined by their quality and quantity.

   Answer: True

4. Question: When pronouncing diphthongs, the root of the tongue is LAX.

   Answer: It is TENSE.

5. Question: Mention at least FIVE words that contain /ʊə/

   Answer: Tour, during, cure, secure, pure, sure, poor...

6. Question: DEFINITION _______: sequence of vowel sounds composed by a diphthong and the vowel schwa.

   Answer: Triphthong

7. Question: Classify and mention all the diphthongs based on the direction of tongue movement.

   Answer: Centering: /eə/, /ɪə/ and /ʊə/ Closing: Fronting (/eɪ/, /aɪ/ and /ɔɪ/) and Backing (/əʊ/and /aʊ /)

8. Question: Is this allophonic transcription correct? Quite /kwaɪ.t/

   Answer: No

9. Question: Regarding prominence, any diphthong can be falling or rising.

   Answer: Only centring diphthongs ɪə/ and /ʊə/ can be rising.

10. Question: /ɔɪ/ occurs only in mid and final position.

    Answer: It can occur in all positions. Examples?