diphthongy

Diphthongy refers to the pronunciation of a single vowel sound as two distinct vowel sounds within the same syllable. This is in contrast to monophthongs, which are single, pure vowel sounds. Diphthongs are typically formed by the glide from one vowel articulation to another. Common examples in English include the vowel sounds in words like "boy" (oi), "my" (ai), and "go" (ou). The specific realization of a diphthong can vary significantly across different dialects and languages.

The term diphthongy is often used in phonetics and linguistics to describe this phenomenon. It is an important aspect of phonological analysis and can be a key differentiator between different accents. For instance, the diphthong in "price" might be pronounced differently in Received Pronunciation compared to General American English. In some languages, diphthongs are considered distinct phonemes, while in others, they may be allophonic variations of monophthongs. The study of diphthongy helps linguists understand the sound systems of languages and how they evolve.