which would take longer to say /ae/ or /ai/

[Tom Zurinskas]

There is an interesting article in the winter 2007 “American Speech” regarding American English vowel durations (the length of time to say a vowel).   Quoting the article: “It was interesting to note that the vowel /ae/ and not the vowel /ai/ was the longest in the set.”    This is in agreement with the position that /ai/ in American English is more monophthong (a single sound) than diphthong (two sounds).  Tom Zurinskas, USA - CT20, TN3, NJ33, FL5+ See truespel.com - and the 4  truespel books plus "Occasional Poems" at authorhouse.com. 
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