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Question

Difficulty: MediumDiphthongs

Which of the words 'gauge' or 'plait' contains the diphthong sound /eɪ/ to correctly complete the phonetic observation below?

Answer:Unlike 'plait' which features the short monophthong /æ/, the word containing the diphthong sound /eɪ/ is 【gauge】.

Answer

gauge
The word 'gauge' is transcribed phonetically as /ɡeɪdʒ/, featuring the diphthong /eɪ/. In contrast, 'plait' is transcribed as /plæt/, containing only the monophthong /æ/.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Examine the phonetic transcription of the candidate word 'plait'.
The word 'plait' is pronounced /plæt/, which uses the pure monophthong vowel sound /æ/.
Spelling with 'ai' often tricks learners into expecting a diphthong, but 'plait' rhymes with 'plat'.
2
Examine the phonetic transcription of 'gauge'.
The word 'gauge' is pronounced /ɡeɪdʒ/, which explicitly contains the diphthong glide /eɪ/.
The vowel sound glides from /e/ towards /ɪ/, forming the diphthong /eɪ/.

Key Concept

Identification of the diphthong sound /eɪ/ in English words with deceptive orthography
Estimated Time:1m 0s
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Topics

Diphthongs

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