Do you remember my post about the illogical English pronunciation ? Well, today I propose you a challenging game. I will present you with some pairs of words and you will have to decide if they are homophones (words written differently but pronounced in the same way) or minimal pairs (very similar words in pronunciation with only one distinctive phoneme). I will present you with the pairs of words and you will have to decide if they are pronounced the same or not. Then, you can see the solutions down below. Are you ready ? I warn you : be prepared for surprise:
From
: http://freepuppiesfinder.blogspot.com.es/ From :http://www.fotosearch.com/ilustracion/corn-kernel.html
2015/06/puppy-kennels.html
2. mayor vs. major
From : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mayor_Quimby From : http://www.andrews.af.mil/library/biographies/bio.asp?id=14005
3. use vs. juice
From :
http://yonanas.com/juice/
From :
https://twitter.com/projetouse 4. Flower vs. flour
From : http://www.clipartpanda.com From : http://clipartfreefor.com/cliparts/flour-clipart/
/categories/flower-clipart cliparti1_flour-clipart_01.jpg
5. gaol vs. jail
From : http://clipartfreefor.com/files/1/21973_jail-clipart.html |
From :
http://4vector.com/free-vector/ From : http://deevybee.blogspot.com.es/2012/08/
small-red-berries-clip-art-4266 lhow-to-bury-your-academic-writing.htm
7. marry vs. Mary vs. merry
From : http://www.sodahead.com/entertainment/in-which-age-are-you-going-to-marry/question-1848779/ |
http://www.animatedimages.org/cat-merry -christmas-570.htm
|
From :http://www.caringcatholicconvert.com/_sites/wordpress/articles/mary/our-lady-in-the-middle-east/ |
From : http://www.gograph.com/stock-illustration/core.html |
9. Right - write
From : http://school.glwh.org/grace-lutheran-school From : https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=
-is-the-right-choice/ com.jamesmc.writer
10. Cereal vs. serial
From : http://www.quakeroats.com/products/ From : http://lankahelper.blogspot.com.es/2014/09/200-tv-seriesl
cold-cereals/life-cereal/regular.aspx -folder-icon-pack.htm
11. Ireland vs. island
From http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/ From : http://www.messynessychic.com/2014/05/16/a-hotel-on-it/
traveler/none/ireland my-tiny-heart-shaped-island-and-yes-theres-
Solutions :
1. DIFFERENT (minimal pairs): Kennel ['kenl] kernel ['k3:nl]. As you can see, the second word is a bit longer than the first one. Surprisingly, 'kernel' is homophones with 'colonel'. Did you know that ?
2. DIFFERENT : Mayor [meə]; major ['meɪʤə]. As appreciated, the first word is a bit irregular. However, the first word is homophones with the female horse : 'mare'. Quite interesting, don't you think ?
3. DIFFERENT : Use [ju:z]; juice [ʤu:s]. Although, they seem very similar, both words have very distinctive sounds. Firstly, the difference between [j] and [ʤ]. Secondly, the sibilant sound in the first one is voiced, while in the second one is voiceless.
4. SAME (homophones) : Yeah ! Both words are pronounced the same : [flaʊə], with just one syllable. If you say the sentence : I work in a flour factory, someone may think that you make flowers and not flour !
5. SAME (homophones). They are both pronounced [ʤeɪl]. The first one is typically British. These words are really special homophones. Not only are they pronounced the same, but they also refer to the same thing and they have the same meaning !
6. SAME (homophones) : Both of them are pronounced ['beri]. As you can see, the second word has an unusual pronunciation.
7. DIFFERENT (minimal pairs) : Marry ['mɶri]; merry ['meri]; Mary ['meəri].
8. SAME (homophones) : Both words are pronounced [kɔ:].
9. SAME (homophones) : Both words are pronounced [raɪt]. These words are also homophones with 'rite' and 'wright'.
10. SAME (homophones) : Both words are pronounced ['sɪərɪəl]. What a wonderful language English is !
11. SAME (homophones), but only in British English ['aɪlənd]. You can say a sentence like Ireland is an island. However, in American English, post-vocalic 'r' is pronounced, so they would be different words in American English.
Did you enjoy the post ? Then post a comment and add more pairs to my list.
1. DIFFERENT (minimal pairs): Kennel ['kenl] kernel ['k3:nl]. As you can see, the second word is a bit longer than the first one. Surprisingly, 'kernel' is homophones with 'colonel'. Did you know that ?
2. DIFFERENT : Mayor [meə]; major ['meɪʤə]. As appreciated, the first word is a bit irregular. However, the first word is homophones with the female horse : 'mare'. Quite interesting, don't you think ?
3. DIFFERENT : Use [ju:z]; juice [ʤu:s]. Although, they seem very similar, both words have very distinctive sounds. Firstly, the difference between [j] and [ʤ]. Secondly, the sibilant sound in the first one is voiced, while in the second one is voiceless.
4. SAME (homophones) : Yeah ! Both words are pronounced the same : [flaʊə], with just one syllable. If you say the sentence : I work in a flour factory, someone may think that you make flowers and not flour !
5. SAME (homophones). They are both pronounced [ʤeɪl]. The first one is typically British. These words are really special homophones. Not only are they pronounced the same, but they also refer to the same thing and they have the same meaning !
6. SAME (homophones) : Both of them are pronounced ['beri]. As you can see, the second word has an unusual pronunciation.
7. DIFFERENT (minimal pairs) : Marry ['mɶri]; merry ['meri]; Mary ['meəri].
8. SAME (homophones) : Both words are pronounced [kɔ:].
9. SAME (homophones) : Both words are pronounced [raɪt]. These words are also homophones with 'rite' and 'wright'.
10. SAME (homophones) : Both words are pronounced ['sɪərɪəl]. What a wonderful language English is !
11. SAME (homophones), but only in British English ['aɪlənd]. You can say a sentence like Ireland is an island. However, in American English, post-vocalic 'r' is pronounced, so they would be different words in American English.
Did you enjoy the post ? Then post a comment and add more pairs to my list.
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