Psycholinguistics/Components of Speech/Learning Exercise Answer Key

Part 1
1. a) A minimal pair occurs if words differ on only one contrastive unit. b) Allophone are variations of the same phoneme that do not change the meaning of a word. 2.	Catch - Cash
 * These two words are a minimal pair and differ only the presence of the t​͡ʃ​ in 'catch' vs. ʂ in 'cash'

3.	Persist - Missed
 * These two words are neither a minimal pair or an example of an allophone.

4.	Liege – Lease
 * These two words are a minimal pair and differ only /s/and /ʒ/. However the pronouciation of ‘liege’ can also be said as /lidʒ/ in which case this would not be an example of a minimal pair or an allophone.

5.	Messed – Confessed
 * These two words are neither a minimal pair or an example of an allophone.

6.	‘p’ – punctuate/compromised
 * These two forms are allophones in English. The ‘p’ in ‘puntuate’ is aspirated and the ‘p’ in ‘compromised’ is not, however this does not create a meaningful contrast in English and they are therefore allophones.

7.     Soot - Suit
 * These two words are a minimal pair and differ only on the phonemes /ʊ/ and /u/.

8.     /l/ – let/tell
 * These two forms are allophones in English. The /l/’ in ‘let’ is considered to be a clear /l/ and the /l/ in ‘tell’ is considered a velarised /l/, however these do not create meaningful contrast in English and are therefore allophones.

9.     Match - Attach
 * These two words are neither a minimal pair or an example of an allophone.

10.    Beige - Bays
 * These two words are a minimal pair and differ only /ʒ/ and /z/.

Part 2 - ASL
1.

2.

a) None of the above examples are an example of a minimal pair.

3.	Home – Yesterday
 * These two signs are a minimal pair that differ only on the hand configuration.

4.	Soon – Train
 * These two signs are a minimal pair that differ only on hand configuration.

5. ASL signs Know – Think
 * These two signs are a minimal pair that differ only on hand configuration.

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