English vowels and their classifications Vowel sounds are produced when the vocal tract remains open allowing air to flow freely from lungs through mouth without significant constriction. They core of syllables can be classified as pure vowels also known monophthongs gliding diphthongs triphthongs. Monophthongs: These simple vowel that have a single unchanging sound quality. tongue lips do not move while pronouncing them. There 12 in divided into short long vowels. (a) Short vowels: there seven English. with relatively brief duration. Examples • /?/ ? - bit sit hit. • /e/ bet let set. • /æ/ bat cat hat. cup luck sun. • /?/? hot cot not. put foot could. sofa about comma (also schwa sound). (b) five they longer duration compared • /i?/ see tree need. • /u?/ food mood rude. • /??/ car star father. saw law bought. ?? bird herd word. Diphthongs: A diphthong is complex begins one quality gradually glides another within same syllable. This movement creates blended encompasses two distinct positions. The position another creating dynamic change sound. Diphthongs often represented by IPA symbols joined together indicating starting ending positions 8 eight diphthongs. • /a?/?? my fly high. • /e?/?? day say play. • /??/?? boy toy coin. now loud how. • /o?/?? go no show. here ear beer. • /e?/ air care bear. sure tour cure. Triphthongs: triphthong an even more involves glide three different qualities It starts sound moves ends on third all rapid succession. Triphthongs sequence symbols reflecting smooth transition between sounds. triphthongs occur followed /?/ (?) Common • /a??/ (?? + ?) fire or tire. hour power. • /e??/ player layer. • /o??/ lower mower. • /???/(?? employer lawyer. Summary Monophthongs stable involve complex involving single combinations