Diphthong is the meetingvowel of a vowel and a semivowel (V+SV) or of a semivowel and a vowel (SV+V) atsamesyllable.
Examples:
- çthere-xa (V + SV)
- de-grwow (V + SV)
- to beie (SV + V)
In the examples above, we see that when we divide the words box, step and series, in each of them a vowel and a semivowel are together. If they parted they weren't diphthongs.
Slowly read aloud and see the difference: cthere-xa (we don't say cThe-i-xa), de-grwow (we don't say de-grThe-u) and beie (we don't say se-ri-and).
As for their classification, diphthongs can be Ascending or Descending, according to their location, and in Oral or Nasal, according to their pronunciation.
Below, we explain each of them. Check out!
Crescent Diphthong
A crescent diphthong is one in which the semivowel comes before the vowel (SV + V). In this case, the sound increases (grows) from the least to the loudest.
Examples:
- glo-rwas going
- bad goh
- pin-ghim
Descending Diphthong
Descending diphthong is one in which the vowel comes before the semivowel (V + SV). Here the opposite happens, that is, the sound decreases (decreases) from more to less strong.
Examples:
- vthere-ity
- thereHey-you
- çme
oral diphthong
Oral diphthong is one that is emitted from the mouth, such as ai, ei, ie, oi, ui.
Examples:
- cha-pme
- or-chi-dand the
- Pwow
nasal diphthong
Nasal diphthongs, in turn, are emitted by the mouth and the nasal cavities, such as ão, ãe, õe.
Examples:
- mto the
- mmother
- Poh
Diphthong Examples
| diphthongs | Location classification | Pronunciation Rating |
|---|---|---|
| beyondmothers | decreasing | nasal |
| çthere | decreasing | oral |
| çHey-The | decreasing | oral |
| fror-xo | decreasing | oral |
| historywas going | growing | oral |
| mHey-The | decreasing | oral |
| mHey | decreasing | oral |
| mHey-OK | decreasing | oral |
| mhi-to | decreasing | oral |
| Nme-sa | decreasing | oral |
| noHey-you | decreasing | oral |
| Pthere | decreasing | oral |
| Pto the | decreasing | nasal |
| pa-pthere-The | growing | oral |
| pa trwas going | growing | oral |
| PHey-X and | decreasing | oral |
| whatwow-dra-do | growing | oral |
| whatwowthere | growing | oral |
| whatHey-jo | decreasing | oral |
| whatHey-shah | decreasing | oral |
| Satto the | decreasing | nasal |
| sthere-The | decreasing | oral |
| swow-da-de | decreasing | oral |
| to beyo | growing | oral |
| tHey-The | decreasing | oral |
With the New Orthographic Agreement, the diphthongs "hi" in paroxytone words are no longer given tonic accent. Examples: asterHey-of, ha-ha-lHey-from, to-nHey-co (before: asteroid, cephaloid, paranoid).
The same goes for the "hey" diphthongs. Examples: a-tHey-a, I-ro-pHey-a, pro-so-po-pHey-a (before: atheist, European and prosopopoeal).
Diphthong, Tritongo and Hiatus
Besides the diphthong, there are also other vowel encounters: the tritongo and the hiatus.
O triphthong it is the meeting of a semivowel with a vowel and a semivowel (SV + V + SV) in the same syllable.
Examples:
- w-wwwhoa
- whathuh
- U-ru-gWow
O gap it is the meeting of two vowels (V + V) in different syllables.
Examples:
- ha-hai-O-only
- PThe-ís
- rThe-iz
There are especially two characteristics that distinguish vowel encounters:
- One concerns the number of vowels and semivowels. So while in the diphthong we have the meeting of a vowel and a semivowel (two=V+SVorSV+V), at the triphthong, there are two semivowels and a vowel (three=SV+V+SV), in the same syllables.
- The other concerns the separation of these encounters from the moment they are pronounced, so that, while in the diphthong there is the meeting of two phonemes - vowel and semivowel - atsamesyllable, at the gap the meeting of the two vowels happens insyllablesdifferent.