The diphthongs

PRICE

Although there are some realizations of this diphthong that approach an equivalent of RP [aɪ], there is a certain amount of variation. There is evidence (from occasional visitors’ parodies) that at least in the 19^th and early 20^th century a broad tendency to approximate [ɔɪ] was usual for this diphthong. An interesting split is evident, taking the much-used word island. In some speakers the vowel element has become monophthong [a:], while others retain a diphthong with rounding in the first element. Why is enunciated with rounding, as is size and kind. Time, has a rounded diphthong but also is enunciated as a monophthong [a:], varying even in the same speaker. There is also a tendency among younger speakers towards ‘Canadian’ raising in words such as like and right – where the vowel quality is [əɪ]. This is also apparent in the speech of some elderly speakers.