Phonology The sounds of language | Page 13

Vowels English vowels are dvided into two majors types, simple vowels (also called pure vowels or monophthongs) and dipthongs. Simple vowels don't show a noticeable change in quality. Dipthongs are vowels that exhibit a change in quality within a single syllable, English diphtongs show changes in quality that are due to tongue movement away from the initial vowel articulation.