The English alphabet has 6 vowels, which, through various combinations, form 22 sounds. Among these sounds, there are special groups called monophthongs, diphthongs and trifthongs. They differ in the number of component sounds.
Monophthongs are ordinary sounds familiar to our hearing. In English there are 12: [i], [i:], [u:], [u], [ə], [e], [æ], [ə:], [a:], [ʌ] , [ɔ:], [ɔ]. They are short or long. A letter may be expressed in one or more letters.
The diphthong in English is an indivisible sound. It is formed by a combination of two vowels. One of them is considered the "core" forming the syllable, and the other is only an "echo". In English, there are 8 diphthongs: [ai], [aʊ], [ei], [eə], [əʊ], [iə], [ʊə], [ͻi]. Similar Russian sounds do not exist. During the pronunciation of the diphthong, the speech organs do not change their position, two vowels are pronounced as one, not being divided into syllables.
In English, vowel diphthongs are divided into 3 types:
- Ascending. The second sound is predominant over the first.
- Descending. The first sound prevails.
- Equilibrium. Both sounds have the same acoustics, pronounced evenly.
Trifthongs have a more intricate design, combining 3 vowels. In English there are two of them: [auə] and [aiə].
Diphthong and digraph
Many people confuse the concepts of "diphthong" and "digraph", but they have a completely different design.
A digraph is one sound, but always two letters. A diphthong is two sounds, and it can consist of 1, 2 or 3 letters. However, vowels belonging to different syllables are read separately - this is neither a digraph nor a diphthong.
Examples of digraphs in English:
- Sh [ʃ] is read as the Russian sound "sh".
- At the end of the word ng [ŋ] is pronounced as nasal “n” (the root of the tongue is pressed against the soft palate).
- Consistent in one syllable, “ee” [ɪ] sounds like Russian “and”.
- Th has no analogue in Russian. It is read in different ways depending on the case: [θ] - as a mezhubnaya “s” or [ð] - as an interdental “z”.
- Ch [tʃ] sounds like a Russian “h” sound.
- The combination kn [n] is pronounced like the usual "n".
- The letter “ea” located in one syllable is read as the sound “and”.
The study of digraphs and diphthongs will not be difficult since they are independent of the letters standing nearby and the stress in the word.
Diphthong [ai]
The diphthong [ai] is similar to the Russian “ai”. The letter is transmitted in the following letters:
- y (in the open stressed syllable);
- ye (at the end of the word);
- eye
- i (in an open stressed syllable);
- ie (at the end of a word);
- uy;
- igh.
Examples:
- fly [flaɪ] - fly, fly;
- dye [daɪ] - to paint, to paint;
- eyebrow [ˈaɪbraʊ] - eyebrow;
- line [laɪn] - line, line;
- tie [taɪ] - tie, tie;
- guy [ɡaɪ] - guy, small;
- knight [naɪt] - horseman, knight;
- lie [laɪ] - lies, deception.
Diphthong [aʊ]
The diphthong [aʊ] is similar to the Russian "au". The letter is expressed in letters:
Examples:
- house [haʊs] - house, house;
- how [ˈhaʊ] - how, how;
- sound [saʊnd] - sound, noise;
- down [daʊn] - descent, down;
- cloud [klaʊd] - cloud, cloud;
- brown [braʊn] - brown, brown;
- town [taʊn] - city, town.
Difthong [ei]
The diphthong [ei] is similar to the Russian “hey”. Transmitted by letters:
Examples:
- late [leɪt] - late, last;
- tray [treɪ] - gutter, tray;
- main [meɪn] - main, main;
- great [ɡreɪt] - great, excellent;
- gray [ɡreɪ] - gray, cloudy;
- eight [eɪt] - eight;
- day [deɪ] - day, day.
Diphthong [eə]
The diphthong [eə] is similar to the Russian "ea". Expressed in the following letters:
Examples:
- bear [beə] - bear, bear;
- care [keə] - take care;
- hair [heə] - hair, hair;
- fair [feə] - fair, honest.
Difthong [əʊ]
The diphthong [əʊ] is similar to the Russian "oh." The letter is transmitted in letters:
- o (in stressed open syllable);
- ou;
- oa;
- ow.
Examples:
- bone [bəʊn] - bone, bone;
- soul [səʊl] - spirit, soul;
- coat [ˈkəʊt] - coat, jacket;
- snow [snəʊ] - snow, snowy.
Diphthong [iə]
The diphthong [iə] is similar to the Russian "IE". The letter is expressed in letters:
Examples:
- deer [dɪə] - doe, deer;
- fierce [fɪəs] - cruel, strong;
- gear [ɡɪə] - mechanism, gear;
- severe [sɪˈvɪə] - serious, severe;
- tear [ˈtɪə] - tear, bursting.
Difthong [ʊə]
The diphthong [ʊə] is similar to the Russian ue. Transmitted by the following letters:
Examples:
- sure [ʃʊə] - certainly, without fail;
- cruel [krʊəl] - cruel, terrible;
- poor [pʊə] - poor, poor;
- tour [tʊə] - tour, tour;
- endure [ɪnˈdjʊə] - endure, endure.
Difthong [ͻi]
The diphthong [ͻi] is similar to the Russian "oh." The letter expresses:
Examples:
- annoy [əˈnɔɪ] - annoy, annoy;
- noisy [ˈnɔɪzi] - noisy, screaming;
- soy [sɔɪ] - soy sauce, soy;
- oil [ɔɪl] - oil, oil;
- boy [ˌbɔɪ] - a boy, a young man.
Features of pronunciation diphthongs
The pronunciation of diphthongs in English is sometimes accompanied by errors, since there are no such sounds in Russian. The correct pronunciation of new combinations of vowels requires a special position of the tongue and lips.
It is also necessary to remember some of the nuances of pronunciation diphthongs in English:
- In the diphthong [ei], the sound [e] is pronounced strongly, like something in between the Russian “e” and the soft “e”. [i] - a short and weak vowel sound, you should not pronounce it as a Russian consonant "th".
- The first sound in most diphthongs in English should sound longer than the second. Thanks to this, the speech will be more similar to English.
- In the diphthong [eə], the sound [e] is strong and long, and [ə] is weak and short.
Most sounds and diphthongs in the English language cause a lot of difficulties for Russian speakers. Therefore, it is important to start by simply remembering the pronunciation rules, and only then begin to practice the acquired knowledge. Regular training is the key to your success!