2.4.- Minimal Pairs.
If you look at the pronunciation of the following words, you will realize that in each pair there is only one phonological element which is different between them. This is what we call in English minimal pairs.
| Ban | /bæn/ | Pan | /pæn/ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dry | /draɪ/ | Try | /traɪ/ |
| Game | /ɡeɪm/ | Came | /keɪm/ |
| Thin | /θɪn/ | Tin | /tɪn/ |
| Shell | /ʃel/ | Sell | /sel/ |
In this unit we are going to have a look at some consonant minimal pairs. We will concentrate on those consonants whose pronunciation is difficult for Spanish speakers:
| Big | /bɪɡ/ | Pig | /pɪɡ/ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bee | /biː/ | Pea | /piː/ |
| Bath | /bɑːθ/ | Path | /pɑːθ/ |
| Bye | /baɪ/ | Pie | /paɪ/ |
The main difference is that when the sound /p/ is at the beginning of the word it is aspirated, that is the air goes through your mouth when you pronounce it. It doesn't happen with the sound /b/.
| Dip | /dɪp/ | Tip | /tɪp/ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dart | /biː/ | Tart | /tɑːt/ |
| Dale | /deɪl/ | Tale | /teɪl/ |
| Drain | /dreɪn/ | Train | /treɪn/ |
The main difference is that when the sound /t/ is at the beginning of the word it is aspirated, that is the air goes through your mouth when you pronounce it. It doesn't happen with the sound /d/.
| Goat | /ɡəʊt/ | Coat | /kəʊt/ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gum | /ɡʌm/ | Come | /kʌm/ |
| Glass | /ɡlɑːs/ | Class | /klɑːs/ |
| God | /ɡɒd/ | Cod | /kɒd/ |
The main difference is that when the sound /k/ is at the beginning of the word it is aspirated, that is the air goes through your mouth when you pronounce it. It doesn't happen with the sound /g/.
| Three | /θriː/ | Tree | /triː/ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thanks | /θæŋks/ | Tanks | /tæŋks/ |
| Thought | /θɔːt/ | Taught | /tɔːt/ |
To pronounce the sound /θ/ correctly, place the tip of your tongue on your upper teeth; however, place the tip of your tongue on the alveolar ridge to pronounce the sound /t/ and remember to aspirate it when it is in initial position.
| She | /ʃiː/ | See | /siː/ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sheet | /ʃiːt/ | Seat | /siːt/ |
| Short | /ʃɔːt/ | Sort | /sɔːt/ |
The main difference is that to pronounce the sound /ʃ/ the front of your tongue is on the roof of your mouth, between the alveolar ridge and the hard palate.