BCECE LE Phonetics & Speech Sounds – Set 1

Step 1: This question specifies the traditional Received Pronunciation (RP) vowel inventory.
Step 2: It is commonly described as 12 monophthongs (pure vowels) and 8 diphthongs, giving 20 vowel phonemes.
Step 3: Therefore, option D (20) is correct. Other English accents may have different vowel inventories.

Step 1: Define monophthongs.
Step 2: A monophthong is a single, unchanging vowel sound produced without any movement or glide of the vocal organs. Hence, it is called a 'pure vowel'.
Step 3: Option B is correct.

Step 1: Understand the nature of diphthongs.
Step 2: A diphthong is a speech sound where the voice glides smoothly from one vowel quality to another within the same syllable.
Step 3: Option C ('Vowel glides') is correct.

Step 1: A monophthong is a vowel sound produced without a glide to another vowel quality.
Step 2: In the traditional RP model used in this syllabus, there are 12 monophthongs.
Step 3: Therefore, option C (12) is correct.

Step 1: A diphthong is a vowel sound that glides from one vowel quality to another within a single syllable.
Step 2: The traditional RP model commonly lists 8 diphthongs.
Step 3: Therefore, option B (8) is correct.