You know, I think I actually double the [j] sometimes to give the
following syllable an onset. So sometimes I pronounce fire as something
like [faj.j@]. It may be a similar rule to the rule that inserts [j] as
onset in an onsetless syllable following [i].
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>The pronunciation of such words differ from lect to lect - some even pronounce
>"fire" with a monophthong as [fA:] - but it's probably most commonly
>bisyllabic; RP [faj.@] (at least the kind of RP they teach furriners).
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