Why could initial iota not create diphthongs?

1. What is improper diphthong?
2. What sound does ᾳ make?
3. What are improper diphthong examples?
4. Why are diphthongs called diphthongs?

What is improper diphthong?

Traditionally, diphthongs are classified as proper and improper. Diphthongs are called proper when the first vowel is either short or followed by υ, while diphthongs consisting of a long vowel followed by ι are called improper.

What sound does ᾳ make?

αι sounds exactly like ε, as in the word “egg.” ει, οι, and υι sound exactly like η, ι, υ, as in the word “teeth.” ου sounds like οο, as in the word “school.”

What are improper diphthong examples?

noun A vowel digraph; a union of two vowels in the same syllable, only one of them being sounded; as, ai in rain , eo in people ; -- called an improper diphthong .

Why are diphthongs called diphthongs?

Diphthong comes from the Greek word diphthongos which means "having two sounds." Notice the di- for "double." So diphthongs are double vowel sounds in words like chair, fear, or pout. If two vowels in a row are the same, as in boot or beer, then it's not a diphthong.