What are variant vowel digraphs?

Variant vowel digraphs refer to combinations of two vowels that together produce a sound that is distinct from the typical long or short vowel sounds. They do not fit neatly into the categories of being classified strictly as long or short vowels. For instance, in words like "bread" or "bead," the vowel combinations yield unique sounds that can vary from the expected pronunciation of the individual letters. This concept emphasizes the complexity and diversity of vowel sounds in English, where certain vowel pairings create different pronunciations that don’t align with the standard long or short classifications that one might typically encounter. Understanding this helps readers appreciate the nuances of vowel sounds in phonetics and spelling patterns.