noun
- the process or result of a vowel sound becoming a diphthong, especially as a sound change in language evolution
Usage: linguistics
verb
- the present participle of diphthong; to pronounce or change a vowel sound into a diphthong
Usage: linguistics
Examples
- The diphthonging of the long vowels was a major sound change in Middle English.
- Linguists study diphthonging as part of historical phonology.
- Some dialects are diphthonging vowels that were previously monophthongs.
- The process of diphthonging can occur gradually over centuries.
- Modern English shows evidence of ongoing diphthonging in certain vowel systems.