CHAPTER V

Unit 13

The Diphthongs

   112.  A pure diphthong is the union in one syllable of two simple vowel sounds uttered in rapid succession.  The diphthongs are therefore expressed by joining the circles and hooks representing the vowel sounds of which the diphthongs are composed:

     NOTE: The diphthong u is a combination of e and oo; ow, of ä and oo; oi, of aw and e.  The sign for the diphthong i is a large circle with an indentation—resembling a combination of ä and e, which, if uttered in rapid succession, yield a sound almost equivalent to i.  This sign is generally called "the broken circle."

     The signs are written in their sounded order.  The sign for the diphthong i is treated as a circle, and conforms to the rules for joining circles.  Note how the diphthong i is written in the words size, nice, price, mine, which appear in the following word drill.

113. Word Drill

*See mile in the brief forms below.

     114.  For convenience, long i is expressed by the large circle in the following words:

115.  Brief Forms for Common Words

     116.  When word forms end with the diphthong i, the double circle is used to express the diphthong and the termination ly:

117.  Reading and Dictation Practice

Transcription Key to this Unit
- Next Unit -