HOMOGENEOUS DIPHTHONG: CHARACTERISTICS, EXAMPLES - GEOGRAFÍA - 2025

The homogeneous diphthong is one formed by the union of two closed vowels (i, u). In general terms, a diphthong is the combination of two vowel sounds in the same syllable.

It can be any combination of open vowels (a, e, o) with closed vowels (i, u) or only weak vowels, which is the case of the homogeneous diphthong.

Examples of homogeneous diphthongs

There are only two possibilities for the latter case: iu and ui. Examples of homogeneous diphthongs can be found in the words c iu ty, tr iu nfo, b ui tre, and c ui given.

At the linguistic level, the problem with this class of diphthongs is to determine which of the two vowel sounds is the nucleus of the syllable, and which is the semiconsonant or semivowel.

This differentiation makes it possible to establish whether a diphthong is ascending or descending. When it comes to heterogeneous diphthongs, the closed vowel plus open vowel combination is considered ascending.

The combination of descendants is the reverse: open vowel plus closed vowel. Open vowels are always the syllabic nucleus.

In this way, in the above cases, the closed vowels become semi-vowels or semi-consonants. The latter cannot form the nucleus of a syllable because they occur with some obstruction in the vocal tract. But, when it comes to a homogeneous diphthong, it becomes difficult to determine which of the two vowels is the nucleus.

Characteristics of the homogeneous diphthong

Accentuation

The homogeneous diphthong follows the established stress rules. In the case that it corresponds to place a tilde, it must go in the second vowel. Thus, this happens with acute words ending in vowels or in consonants n / s and esdrújulas.

Among the words that serve to illustrate this point are: influenced (in-fluí), included (in-cluí), cuídate (cuí-da-te), linguistics (lin-güís-ti-ca), aquifer (a-cuí -fe-ro) and build it (build-se-la).

On the other hand, in the case of the diphthong ui, it does not have an accent in the cases of participles of verbs ending in uir (included, constructed).

This homogeneous diphthong is also not spelled accentuated in cases where it is part of grave nouns or adjectives ending in vowels in n / s consonants (for example: gratuitous).

Geographic or social change

On some occasions, a homogeneous diphthong gives up its function of limiting syllables. Instead, a hiatus forms. That is, the two weak vowels are separated into two syllables. This change of function can be given for reasons of the geographical or social origin of the speakers.

Thus, for example, the word flow under certain conditions is pronounced flow (as diphthong) or flow (as hiatus). However, for the purposes of graphic accentuation, in both cases they are considered to be diphthongs.

Group ui

Regarding the group (ui), the Royal Spanish Academy considers that in all cases - and for writing purposes - it is a homogeneous diphthong.

However, modern linguists hold that phonetically they are hiatuses. As an example they take the word fled (derivation of flee) which is pronounced hu-i-do and not hui-do.

Examples

The following are excerpts from literary texts that will serve as an illustration of the homogeneous diphthong. In all these fragments, this combination has been highlighted in the same closed vowel syllable.

Diphthong ui

Love, love, that is hurt,

hurt,

of love hui do.

Wounded,

dead of love.

Tell everyone that has been

the r ui sir.

Wounded,

dead of love.

(Federico García Lorca, Wounded by Love)

C Uí date, Claudia, when you're with me,

because the slightest gesture any word, a sigh

of Claudia, the lower desc ui do,

maybe one day checked scholars,

and this dance of Claudia remembered for centuries.

(Ernesto Cardenal, Epigrams)

"Tita knew that within the communication standards of the house was not incl ui I do dialogue, but still, for the first time in his life he tried to protest a mandate from his mother Gertrudis read to the sergeant's instructions, con fl ui dez and out loud. " (Laura Esquivel, Like water for chocolate)

“I'm very sorry, but we can't help it; you 'll have to be content with giving your name male form and play you're our brother - he said Beth stroking the rough head placed on his knees, one hand whose soft touch had failed to destr ui r all washing of dishes and all the work domestic." (Louisa May Alcott, Little Women).

Diphthong iu

Seas of light by the sphere sonante,

tr iu nfador night, the golden chariot

spear the sun, and his perennial cry

suspends the world and its severe distress.

(Rafael María Baralt, In the Sun)

Each c iu dad may be another

when love transfigures

every c iu dad may be as many

as loving the walking…

(Mario Benedetti, Each city can be another)

"I have not yet turned twenty iu no." "Because it was taken for granted that a son would be born and that he would inherit the estate to arriving at a suitable age, so the v iu da and daughters would be insured." "Elizabeth, with tr iu nfal satisfaction, looked at Darcy." (Jane Auten, Pride and Prejudice)

“… Now he will poison you in the garden. His name is Gonzago. The story is true and is written in beautiful Italian style. You will soon see how the murderer manages to fall in love with the v iu da Gonzago. " "Then the heavy c iu dad Trojan / as if he had been hit / head in flames, sinking into its foundations…" (William Shakespeare, Hamlet)

“There was a bug that pecked my feet. I had already ripped open my shoes and stockings and was now pecking at my feet. She would always take a peck, fly in restless circles around, and then carry on with the work. " (Franz Kafka, Vultures)

References

1. University of Virginia. (2018, May 10). Spanish Phonetics. Taken from virginia.edu
2. Fernández López, J. (s / f). Spanish phonetics. The vowels and their groupings. Taken from hispanoteca.org
3. Veciana, R. (2004). The Spanish accentuation: new manual of the accentual norms. Santander: Ed. University of Cantabria.
4. Brodsky, D. (2009). Spanish Vocabulary: An Etymological Approach. Austin: University of Texas Press.
5. Castillo, JC (2017). What rhyme tells us about the status of homogeneous diphthongs in spanish. Taken from scholarworks.uni.edu
6. Macpherson, IR (1975). Spanish Phonology: Descriptive and Historical. Manchester: Manchester University Press.
7. Hualde, JI (2013). The sounds of Spanish: Spanish Language edition. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
8. Navarro Lacoba, R. (2014). The definitive guide to accentuation - Theory and exercises solved. Kindle Edition: Rocío Navarro Lacoba.