2. What is minimal pairs?
In phonology, minimal pairs are pairs
of words or phrases in a
particular language, which differ in only
one phonological element, such as
a phone, phoneme, and have distinct
meanings. They are used to
demonstrate that two phones constitute
two separate phonemes in the
language.
3. Deference between two otherwise
identical strings of sound and this
difference result in a change of
meaning.
ex:
wet:yet to:do
kill:gill park:bark
might:night lot:rot
Sue:zoo fairy:very
4.
5. Phoneme in minimal pairs
If we substitute one segment for another
and this result in a change in meaning
the two segments belong to two
difference phonemes
Thus (k) and (m) are realization of two
difference phonemes (k) and (m)
because substituting one for the other
as first element of the string (aet) gives
two difference words . (cat) and (mat)
6. Example:
pig:big (p is opposed to b)
- /p/ is opposed to /t/ as in (pea:tea)
- /p/ is opposed to /j/ as in (peep:jeep)
- /p/ is opposed to /d/ as in (Pig:dig)
- peep:cheap
- Peat:feet
- Port:thought
- pea:we
- rip:ring
7. Minimal set
A set of distinct words in a language
which differ in only one or a limited
number of phonological elements. If
there are two words in the set, it is a
minimal pair. A minimal set is used to
demonstrate that the phonological
element under consideration is
phonemic—that is, that it has contrastive
function in determining meaning.