Speech Work: Diphthongs

A diphthongs is a double quality vowel. It starts with one quality and ends with another. However, it still function as one vowel. There are eight diphthongs in English and their phonetic symbols indicate the initial and final vowels represented in the articulation.

Diphthongs are generally classified into two groups, taking into consideration the direction of the movement in their production. Thus, there are closing diphthongs –/ eI, ai, Ͻi, ǝƱ, aƱ / and centering diphthongs /Iǝ, eǝ, Ʊǝ /. The closing diphthongs involve gliding movement towards the close region / I, Ʊ/ the centering diphthong on the other hand, are produced with the movement of the tongue towards / ǝ / which is a central vowel.

Sound	Letters	Keywords
/ eI /	ei	eight, weight, vein, freight
	a..e	bake, fake, waste, hate
	ai	maid, train, brain, laid
	ey	they, prey
	ea	break, greate
	ay	pray, play, may, stray
	ol	cold, fold
/ ǝƱ/	o	Go, no, so, old
	oe	toe, hoe, foe,
	oa	goat, toast, boat, loaf, toad.
	ow	sow, grow, throw, low, borrow
	ew	sew, shew
	ou	dough, soul, though, although
/ ai /	i	hide, tide, bite, site, mind,
	uy	buy, guy
	ye	bye, dye
	ie	tie, pie, tie, tries,
	igh	high, thigh, right, sight, plight
	ei	height
	hy..e	rhyme, thyme
/ aƱ/	ow	bow, cow, vow, allow
	ou	out, about, shout, bout, vouch
	ough	plough, drought, bough
	oun	bound, round, found
/ Ͻi /	oi	oil, boil, toil, coil, soil
	oy	boy, toy, joy, coy, ploy, employ
/ Iǝ /	ere	here, mere, sincere
	ear	clear, fear, sear, rear, dear, near, hear, gear
	eer	beer, cheer, deer, steer, peer
	eir	Weird
	ea	idea, area
	oe	theory
	o	hero, period
	iou	curious, serious, savior
	ier	pierce, fierce, tier, plier
/ eǝ /	are	share, care, spare, rare, dare
	air	fair, air, pair, hair, stairs
	ear	tear, bear, wear, pear
	eir	their, heir
	ere	there, where
	ae	Aeroplane
/Ʊǝ /	ure	cure, pure, sure, lure, endure
	our	your, tour,
	oor	poor, moor, boor
	ue

EVALUATION

From the words lettered A – D, choose the word that has the SAME VOWEL SOUND as the one represented by the letter(s) underlined.

1. sew            A. soothe         B. new             C. soar             D. know
2. they           A. there           B. day             C. eye              D. key
3. high           A. ghost          B. low             C. hit               D. buy
4. oil              A. buoy           B. bay              C. toll              D. tortoise
5. cheer          A. chair           B. ear               C. check          D. cheat

READING ASSIGNMENT

Oral English for Schools and Colleges, pages 21 – 28.

• Summary – How to Answer Summary Question; African Mud Sculpture, pg. 234, Effective English.

Always have these points at the back of your mind before answering summary question

1. Read the passage carefully.
2. Determine intention of the writer by resigning the key problems in the passage.
3. Do not exceed the required number of sentences.
4. Provide your answer in good sentences bearing in mind sentence structure.
5. Avoid lifting and unnecessary repetition.

The passage reveals that the brass figures of Benin are well known African art. These figures are crafted by men with high skills

EVALUATION

Read the passage and answer related questions.

READING ASSIGNMENT

Effective English, pg 234.

GENERAL EVALUATION/REVISONAL QUESTIONS

1. Identify the figures of speech present in the following expressions.
2. Life is a stage.
3. People say women are necessary evil
4. My driver’s children are pigs.
5. Dan Musa can drink a whole brewery day.
6. Dolapo sings like a nightingale.
7. What are the basic features of a formal letter.

WEEKEND ASSIGNMENT

Section A

Instruction: Choose the word that best completes each of the following sentences.

1. The visitors expressed appreciation for the __________ shown to them during their stay.   A. condemnation    B. pretence    C. hospitality
2. The principal ________ the students for performing brilliantly in the examination  A. condoned   B. commended     C. admonished
3. The judge ________ her to two year improvement    A. pronounced    B. sentenced   C. tried
4. Alinco is generally _________ as the most experienced mason in town.   A. recommended   B. recognized     C. informed
5. The board of Directors is discussing how the company can be run more _________________    A. effeminately    B. efficiently     C. effortlessly

Section B

No 6 – 10, pg 89; No 1 – 5, page 89, Effective English.