Hello Cafetalk Community!

I'm continuing to meet lovely, motivated, and delightful people on Cafetalk, primarily Japanese people on but also from other countries too! I'm not just saying that. I've genuinely enjoyed meeting and talking to every single student I've met on Cafetalk. The students I've met have been quality, sweet, and accomplished people. I'm looking forward to meeting even more new students that are just as nice! 

On the other hand, when I really thought about, it seems logical that Cafetalk will attract motivated, passionate, self-driven, high-achiever, determined, and passionate types of people who want to continue to improve themselves. I'm grateful that I've enjoyed every lesson and encounter that I've had so far -- adults and children alike!

Today, I wanted to touch upon "diphthongs." Diphthongs are syllables that are created by two vowels. In the example in the chart above, the diphthongs have two different spellings, and yet the sound of the diphthongs are the same. Sometimes the diphthongs (the two vowels together in the syllable) sound like a single sound. On other occasions, you pronounce both of the vowels sounds - one after the other.

[For example:]

The "aw" and "au" diphthongs have the same sound.

So do the diphthongs of "ew" and "oo." They also sound the same.

In addition, "oi" and "oy" are spelled differently but the two vowels sound the same.

The above also applies to the diphthongs "ow" and "ou."

(Please see the example words in the chart above that includes diphthongs and practice saying each word out loud.)

I hope it helps your pronunciation when you can compare and analyze the formations of words when two vowels are together. I hope you understood the concept of diphthongs and you will be able to incorporate them naturally into your pronunciation exercises and conversation skills. 

If you have any questions about English grammar, please feel free to contact me. My special "English Grammar Lesson's" website is listed below. If you think I might be a suitable tutor for you, please take a look at my profile. Thank you for your consideration!

https://cafetalk.com/tutors/profile/?id=86423&lang=en

Korekara mo yoroshiku onegai-shimasu!

Warmest regards,

Lady Ayame

(Patricia Ayame Thomson)

PS: For your convenience, I included the definition of diphthongs from the Oxford Dictionaries below: 

• 1A sound formed by the combination of two vowels in a single syllable, in which the sound begins as one vowel and moves towards another (as in coin, loud, and side).

• Oxford Dictionaries

  OxfordDictionaries.co