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Which term describes a gliding monosyllabic speech sound that starts at one vowel position and shifts to another?
Diphthong
Monophthong
Grapheme
Triphthong
The correct answer is: Diphthong
The term that describes a gliding monosyllabic speech sound that starts at one vowel position and shifts to another is a diphthong. Diphthongs are characterized by the movement of the tongue from one vowel sound to another within the same syllable, creating a dynamic two-part vowel sound. Examples of diphthongs in English include sounds like "ai" in "rain" or "ou" in "cloud." Monophthongs, on the other hand, represent single vowel sounds that have a consistent quality throughout their production, with no glide or shift. Graphemes refer to the smallest units of written language that represent sounds, while triphthongs involve a complex vowel sound that glides from one vowel to another and then to a third within a single syllable, making them distinct and more complex than diphthongs. Thus, diphthongs specifically capture the concept of a gliding sound within a single monosyllabic structure.