Page 136 - DENG504_LINGUISTICS

Linguistics

Notes During the articulation of non-final / / the centre of the tongue is raised towards the roof of the
mouth to a height between half-close and half-open. The lips are neutral. Nonfinal / / is thus a
e
central unrounded vowel between half-close and half-open. Final / / is slightly opene r than
e
nonfinal / /.
e
e
Spellings (non-final/ /) Transcription
e
a about / , baut/
e
ar backward /bækw d/
e
e sentence (n) /sent ns/
e
er entertain /ent ’tein/
e
o condition /k ndi: ∫ n/
e
e
10.6.2 Diphthongs of R.P.
A diphthong is an independent vowel-glide. It has to occupy one syllable. During the articulation of
/ei/, the glide is from a front unrounded vowel between half-close and half-open to a front unrounded
vow-el just above the half-close position. Its spelling can be represented by a (age), ay (day), ai (pain),
ey (they) and ea (break). It occurs initially, medially and finally as in age, pain and say respectively.
During the articulation of /ai/, the glide is from a front open unrounded vowel to a front unrounded
vowel just above the half-close position. The spelling is represented by i (mine), y (by), igh (high), ei
(either) and uy (buy). It occurs, as regards its distribution initially, medially and finally, in a word,
e.g. ice (initial), fine (medial) and cry (final).
During the articulation of / i/, the glide is from a back rounded vowel between open and half open
to a front unrounded vowel just above the half-close positions. The spelling is represented by oi and
oy as in boil and boy. This diphthong can occur initially, medially and finally as in oil, boil, and boy.
During the articulation of /au /, the glide is from a back open unrounded vowel to a back rounded
vowel just above the half-close position. It occurs initially (out), medially (scout) and finally (cow). Its
spelling is represented by ou (house) and ow (how).
During the articulation of /ou/, the glide is from a central unrounded vowel between half-close and
half-open to a back rounded vowel just above the half-close position. As to its distribution, this
diphthong can occur in all three positions: initial (over), medial (coat), and final (go). Its spelling is
represented by o, ow, oa and ou as in bone, blow, boast, shoulder respectively.
During the articulation of /i /, the glide starts from a front unrounded vowel just above the half
close position and moves in the direction of central unrounded vowel between half-close and open.
e
Its spelling can be represented by eer (deer), ear (clear), ere (here), e (zero), ier (fierce) and ea (idea).
As regards its distribution /ie/ can occur initially, medially and finally as in ear, serious and fear
respectively.
During the articulation of /u /, the glide starts from a back rounded vowel just above the half-close
position and moves in direction of a central unrounded vowel between half-close and half-open. Its
e
spellings are represented by oor, ure and our as in poor, sure and tour respectively. As far as the
distribution is concerned, /u / occurs medially and finally, as in poorly, and moor. It does not
occur initially in a word.
e
During the articulation of /e /, the glide is from a front half-open urounded vowel to a central
unrounded vowel between half-close and half-open. The spellings are air (chair), are (bare), ear (bear)
e
ae (aeroplane), eir (their). As regards its distribution, this diphthong can occur in all the three positions
in a word, e.g. initial (airoplane), medial (daring) and final (dare).
10.6.3 Tripthongs

The diphthongs /ei/,/ai/,/ou/,/au/ may be followed by the vowel / / within a word e.g.
e
player /pler */
e
higher / ha */
1
e

130 LOVELY PROFESSIONAL UNIVERSITY