Monophthong
A monophthong (from the Greek monos "alone" and phthóngos "sound") is a simple vowel with no change in quality (e.g. "u", "a") in contrast to diphthongs (e.g. "au") , "Ei").
Monophthongs can be distinguished in terms of their quantity (long vowel or short vowel) and quality (degree of opening, rounded lips). The vowel triangle provides a two-dimensional representation .
Like all sounds, the monophthongs are subject to changes over time, and sounds change . Some German monophthongs were created by monophthonging from diphthongs; on the other hand, old monophthongs were lost to the system through diphthongization .
One of the most striking features of the highly Alemannic dialects ( Swiss German , Vorarlbergisch ) of German is the monophthongization (or diphthongization that has not been carried out since Middle High German ) of the overwhelming majority of the standard language diphthongs. House appears as hus , mine as min, or fire as for . On the other hand appear as a standard language monophthongs often diphthongs: heaba (n) instead of lift or Luaga (n) instead of peeping .
