DIPHTHONGS AND TRIPHTHONGS

The diphtongs have two vowel sounds and are composed in two parts: the first part is much longer and stronger than the second part that is shorter and quieter.  For example: in the word eye we can realize that the /a/ sound is stronger than the /I/ sound. English has 6 diphtongs which are cathegorized in centring and closing.

These dipthongs are represented in the following charts.

                        CLOSING                                                                CENTRING

  

Triphthongs are composed of three vowel sounds. They are very complicated in the moment we are speaking fluently because we cannot realize if we are pronouncing the words apropiately. In the case of BBC pronuntiation we made triphthongs because we pronounce the ə (schwa) sound at the end of the words like in hour. But in American speech, it is very difficult to identify the triphthongs.

Here we have a video of the diphthongs and triphtongs: