Within the context of understanding pronunciation, diphthongs are helpful. Since most phonics programs do not explicitly explain this third category called diphthongs, teachers will most often categorize some of the diphthongs as “long vowels” instead (such as /A/ and /I/). Whereas, if you say /O/ + /E/ your jaw drops for each of those sounds. Place your hand beneath your jaw and say, “boy.” It drops one time, so it is one syllable, containing one vowel sound. oy/ is not two vowel sounds, because when you say /oy/, your jaw drops one time. Just a reminder, every English syllable must have a vowel - but only one. Young spellers will often hear this shift and write something like “boe”because what they hear is /b/ /O/ /E/, but they have not been taught that /oy/ is a single vowel sound represented by or.

The result is sometimes you almost hear two vowel sounds. For example, /oy/ in “boy.” When you say /oy/ your lips begin rounded and end in a relaxed smile (much like when you say /E/. Linguists also use a third category of vowels - diphthongs.ĭiphthongs are a single vowel sound in which the mouth position shifts while speaking. Now say /a/ as in “apple” and feel how relaxed your tongue is by comparison.

Say “A” and feel the tension in your tongue.

They are referred to as tense vowels because the muscles in your tongue are tense when you say them. Teachers use the phrases “long vowel” and “short vowel,” whereas linguists use the phrases “tense vowels” and “lax vowels,” respectively. It is important to understand terminology while learning about sound. Lowercase vowel letters, /a/, represent the first sound of the phonogram (short sound)and capital vowel letters, /A/, represent the second sound of the phonogram (its name). Key for sounds and symbols Literacy Essentials Key to standardize how sounds are represented and read in this text:Ī phonogram letters in brackets are read as the phonogram with all sounds and text needed to distinguish it from another.Ī single sound is represented by letters within forward slashes, /sh/, /oy/, /t/, /k/.

The 3 Ways a Single Vowel Says its Name.

The Multiple Sounds of A, E, I, Y, O, U.

Spelling Patterns for the 6 long vowel sounds.

What is a long vowel sound