Understanding the Oh Diphthong in American English

This video tutorial focuses on the pronunciation of the 'Oh' diphthong in American English. It explains the characteristics of diphthongs, including their starting and ending positions, and highlights the differences between stressed and unstressed diphthongs. The tutorial provides a detailed comparison of the mouth positions for both stressed and unstressed versions, emphasizing jaw drop and lip rounding. Finally, it offers examples of words containing the 'Oh' diphthong for practice.

What is a diphthong in the context of American English pronunciation?

• A silent letter

• A single vowel sound

• A combination of two sounds

• A consonant sound

In the Oh diphthong, what happens to the jaw at the beginning?

• It drops

• It stays closed

• It moves sideways

• It clenches

How do the lips change during the Oh diphthong in the word 'slow'?

• They flare and then round

• They open wide

• They stay relaxed

• They remain flat

What is the main difference between stressed and unstressed Oh diphthongs?

• Unstressed is louder

• Stressed has more jaw drop

• Unstressed has more lip rounding

• Stressed is quieter

In the word 'okay', how does the jaw movement compare to 'slow'?

• It doesn't drop

• It drops less

• It drops more

• It drops the same amount

Why are unstressed syllables generally more relaxed?

• They are shorter and simplified

• They require more energy

• They are louder

• They are longer

What is a characteristic of unstressed vowels or diphthongs?

• They are more pronounced

• They are louder

• They take the full mouth position

• They are more relaxed

Which of the following words contains a stressed Oh diphthong?

• Okay

• Slow

• Alone

• Social

Which word demonstrates an unstressed Oh diphthong?

• Phone

• Home

• Window

• Okay

What is the purpose of practicing with example words?

• To learn new vocabulary

• To understand pronunciation differences

• To improve spelling

• To memorize definitions