Identify the word among the options that is pronounced with the diphthong /eɪ/.

deign

The word 'deign' is pronounced /deɪn/. The spelling combination 'eign' produces the diphthong /eɪ/, making it the correct choice.

Analyze the phonetic transcription of the target sound /eɪ/

The sound /eɪ/ is a closing diphthong gliding from the mid-front position /e/ toward the close-front position /ɪ/.

Understanding the acoustic and articulatory target sound allows accurate word matching.

Transcribe the pronunciation of each word option

'deign' = /deɪn/, 'friend' = /frend/, 'leopard' = /ˈlep.əd/, 'dime' = /daɪm/.

Orthographic spellings like 'ei' or 'ie' can be deceptive; exact phonetic transcription isolates the vowel sound.

Match the target diphthong to the correct option

'deign' correctly contains the diphthong /eɪ/.

The silent letter sequence 'g' does not prevent 'ei' from producing the /eɪ/ diphthong sound.

Diphthong /eɪ/ Identification and Deceptive Orthography

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