Vowels are speech sounds produced with an open vocal tract, while diphthongs are complex vowel sounds that involve a transition from one vowel to another within the same syllable. These phonetic elements are fundamental to the study of linguistics and play a crucial role in language learning and speech development.

Key points:

• Vowels: single, pure sounds (e.g., /a/, /e/, /i/, /o/, /u/)
• Diphthongs: gliding vowel sounds (e.g., /aɪ/ as in “bite”)
• Vary across languages and dialects
• Important for pronunciation and accent acquisition

Understanding vowels and diphthongs is essential for language teachers and speech therapists in developing effective instructional strategies.