JSS 2 : PHONICS : WEEK 1

WEEK/TERM: THIRD TERM/WEEK 1

DATE: 27.04.2020

CLASS: J.S.S 2

SUBJECT: PHONICS

TOPIC: TRIPHTHONGS

REFERENCE:

BRIEF EXPLANATION: Triphthong is a union of three vowel sounds produced in one syllable. E.g. fire. It is three vowel representing the sounds of a single vowel as in beau.

There are three (3) triphthongs generally agreed upon in English:

1. /∂Ʊ∂/ – (ah-oo-uh).
2. /∂i∂/ – (ah-ih-uh).
3. /jƱ∂/ – (ee –oo-uh).

They always come before the /r/ sounds in a word.

1. /∂Ʊ∂/ – (ah-oo-uh):- This vowel sound occurs when the digraph “ou” is followed by an “r”

Examples:

Words            triphthongs

a.) Our             /aƱ∂r/

b.) Hour           /aƱ∂r/ (/h/ is silent)

c.) Flour           /flaƱ∂r/

d.) Sour             /saƱ∂r/

2. /ai∂/ – (ah-ih-uh):- This triphthong is pronuced with the letter combination “IRE”

Examples

Words                   triphthongs

a.) Fire                         /fai∂r/

b.) Dire                         /dai∂r/

c.) Inspire                     /in’sai∂r/

d.) Ireland                   /ai∂r./∂nd/

In addition to “IRE” words, there are a few other specific instances where this pronunciation may occur. Example pyre /p∂i∂r/, choir/ kwai∂r.

3. /jƱ∂/- (ee-oo-uh) This triphthong sometimes occurs when the digraph “ur” comes after a hard consonant and is followed by an E, y or i. rather than breaking up the sound into two syllables like the previous two triphthongs, this one is often rounded to leave out the schwa altogether.

Examples:

Word              triphthongs

1. Cure               /kjƱ∂r/
2. Fury                /pjƱ∂r/
3. Curious        /’fjƱ∂r.ias/

Exercise / assignment

1. What letter always appears when forming triphthong?

a.) E

b.) R

c.) Y

d.) I

2. How many vowel sounds occur in a single syllable in a triphthong?

a.) I

b.) 2

c.) 3

d.) 4

2. What is a triphthong?