In relation to vowels, what does "the first one does the talking" mean?

The phrase "the first one does the talking" refers specifically to how vowel digraphs are pronounced in English. When two vowels appear together in a vowel digraph, it is typically the first vowel that dictates the sound of the combination. For example, in the word "team," the "e" is the first vowel and it influences the sound, creating a long "e" sound. This concept helps learners understand that when they encounter a pair of vowels, they should pay attention primarily to the first vowel to determine how the digraph is pronounced.

This understanding is crucial for reading fluency and decoding unfamiliar words correctly. It teaches learners the rules of pronunciation that can guide them in making educated guesses about how to sound out words they may not have encountered before.