Fig. 53.

Definition. The nucleus of the diphthong is front, mid (nar­row variant), unrounded.

Articulation. The nucleus is the vowel [ej (see p. 91). For the qiide the tongue moves upward in the direction of [i] and the mouth gets closer. The lips are spread.

The diphthong [eil occurs in all positions in the word, eg aim, plate, say.

Allophones.The nucleus of the diphthong (eij is longer in the open syllable, it is shorter in the closed syllable with a weak consonant at the end and much shorter in the closed syllable ending in a strong voiceless consonant, cf lay — laid — late.

Recommendations.Start with Articulation Exercises II, 4; III, 11.

Take a mirror and practise the sound getting closer. Make the glide very weak. It should be only slightly touched on.

Comparison with the Russian [э+jj. The Russian sound com­bination (aj) starts from a more open position and ends in the sonorant [j], cf lay — лей.

Possible Mistakes.1. Russian students of English can easily replace the diphthong [ei] by the Russian sound combination [aj]. In this case raise the front of the tongue a bit higher and make the second element very weak.

2. [e:]. The second element may be completely dropped. Be sure that there is a slight movement of the sound towards [i]. The sound gets closer to the end, cf gate — get.

[a,]

i — like, write i + nd — kind, find

у — my, type i + Id — child, mild

igh — high, light ei — neither, height

Fig. 54. no

ie, ye — tie, rye ign — sign

Definition.The nucleus of the diphthong is central, open (broad variant), unrounded.

Articulation.The sound starts from the advanced vowel [л) with the mouth wide open and the lips neutral. For the glide the tongue moves upwards in the direction of [i], with the mouth very narrowly open and the lips spread and not rounded.

The sound [ai] occurs in all positions of the word, eg j'ce, time, fly.

Allophones.In the open syllables the nucleus of the diph­thong is the longest, it is shorter in the closed syllable followed by a weak consonant, and it is the shortest in the closed syllable before a strong voiceless consonant, cf tie — tied — tight.

Recommendations.Start with Articulation Exercises I, 1—3.

Take a mirror and practise the sound getting closer. Make the glide very weak.

Comparison with the Russian [aj].The Russian sound com­bination [aj] starts from a less front position and ends in the son-orant [J), cf lie,— лай; my— май.

Possible Mistakes. 1.The nucleus is too back. Russian learn­ers should not practise overretraction.

2. The second element is too prominent. Care should be tak­en to make it very weak and not to glide to a too close position.