DIPHTHONGS & TRIPHONES

(A) Diphthongs

A diphthong (pronounced "diff-thong") is two vowel sounds that are pronounced as one syllable. There are four diphthong signs, which always written thin. They do not change their orientation like the dash vowels do, with the exception of U in certain cases. They can be remembered by the sentence:
 

I  enjoy loud music

There are two first place signs, and where the diphthong is the first vowel of the word, the outline is written in first position, above the line:
 

I/eye pie by/buy tie die/dye China

sky guy vie thigh sigh sighs/size

shy my lie rye/wry wise

pile bike bite type tide/tied
 

time five fire right/write/rite ride

like rely alive mile smile

Mike minus knife wipe wide

spy sight/site/cite side inside decide arrive

nice sign design desire advice

rise/rice rising arising nicer wiser

The sign for "oy" has the top part horizontal:
 

boy toy choice joy coy/koi Roy

enjoy annoy boil boiler toil coil

voice Moira noise soil invoice poison

The other two are third place signs, and, where the diphthong is the first vowel of the word, the outline is written in third position, through the line. These third position signs are written against the following stroke where necessary, the same as the dots and dashes are:
 

out outlook outside ouch cow

row* mouth loud allow allowed       * =argument

sour lounge county tube tuna
 

puny cube beauty duty occupy

abuse bureau suit Tuesday cure

failure fume assume resume* music

* Note this has Ray, not Ar, as there is a circle between the two strokes, which keeps them clear
 

(B) Joined

When a diphthong is the very first or very last sound in the word, they are joined to the stroke if a clear join can made. The U diphthong can be angled slightly or turned on its side when joining but must remain on the correct side of the stroke:
 

ice icy eyes ire ivy item

idle idol Isaac Ipad Irish

bow/bough endow vow sow* pew/Pugh spew     *female pig

stew due/dew queue/cue/Kew few view issue tissue
 

mew new/knew renew avenue

menu argue Matthew value

The following are the only words where the OY sign is joined, and the sign is angled upwards slightly, so that both parts of it remain clear:

oil oily oiled

Before upward L, the I diphthong is joined and reduced to just the first part:
 

isle/aisle eyelid eyelash

In these words, the sign is reduced to just the last part, in order to be able to join:
 

now Lucknow

In a few words, the sign is placed out of position, in order to be able to join it:
 

owl owlish nigh deny

A joined diphthong sign becomes part of the outline, and it is always written in, even when other vowel signs are omitted.

(C) Triphones

Triphone means "3 sounds". A tick is added to the diphthong sign to represent any third vowel sound. The third vowel forms a separate syllable:
 

buying buyer biology dying/dyeing diet dial
 

diary lying vying denying riot

voyage boyish annoying loyal enjoying
 

power bower tower shower towel
 

fewer viewer reviewer duel

newer viewing queuing mewing

suing issuing valuing renewing

If the combination is plain vowel plus diphthong, then write the plain vowel as normal, and place the diphthong sign next to it, as in these plural words:
 

genii radii

(The singular "genius radius" is covered in Lesson 43 Diphones)

(D) Distinguishing Outlines

Although all outlines have vowel signs, in everyday shorthand writing they are mostly omitted, in order to write smoothly and rapidly. Therefore, where outlines have the same shape and position, and are the same part of grammar, (nouns, verbs, adjectives, etc) they could be misread for each other, especially when the meanings are close, or opposite. In such cases it is essential to insert the vowel that is different:
 

amaze amuse, pass oppose

For a few of the more common words, one of the pair breaks the rules, to avoid having to insert vowels. Here "pure" breaks the rule:
 

poor pure poorly purely

Short Forms
 

how why* beyond you

me  own* owing/language young*

* "why" This shape is used for no other sound or word, it is not a diphthong sign.

* "young" and "own" and their derivatives are the only outlines that are written under the line. This position was abandoned by Pitman in his early revisions and, other than these two short forms and their derivatives, writing under the line is not part of the rest of New Era theory.

Derivatives
 

owning, always, all right/alright*

* The spelling "alright" is less formal and is used more for representations of dialogue and spoken matter

Phrases

I speak, I spoke, I suppose, I do, I had, I have

I think, I thank, I say, I see, I shall, I wish, I take

I have had, I shall be, I think they, I think you, I thank you

had you, do you, for you, if you, have you

The I diphthong is shortened to just the first half before K G Ray L M in phrases, this enables a quick and clear join, which speeds up writing:

I can, I give, I go*, I write, I will      *Insert the vowel

I will be, I like, I am, I may*, I may have the     * Insert the vowel

you may, you can, you are the, you will have, you should be, you should have

of you, to you, for you, if you, beyond you, we have you, if you can, if you are

The short form "you" is angled slightly or turned on its side, in the middle or end of some phrases, in order to gain a better join:
 

which you, are you, can you, to give you the, to take you

Note: may you, mew

SUMMARY

• There are four diphthongs - two first place, two third place

• A diphthong sign can be joined in some cases

• The U diphthong can be turned on its side in some cases

• Add a tick to the diphthong sign to add another vowel = triphone

• Some pairs of words need distinguishing outlines to ensure they are not misread for each other

EXTRA VOCABULARY

pipe pike biro dime chime jibe

lied allied shied shiny ripe

writhe rhino lime rhyme suffice

mire admire miser visor riser

wisely soy soya tannoy toiling

bounty cowed gout rout rowdy

purify puma duke rebuke endure

refuge deluge ivory isobar isotope

relying liar via viola

ion iota Iowa bionic Guyana

bower cower valuer issuer

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