Podcast
Play an AI-generated podcast conversation about this lesson
Questions and Answers
Which of the following best defines minimal pairs in phonology?
Which of the following best defines minimal pairs in phonology?
- Pairs of words or phrases that differ in only one phonological element and have distinct meanings (correct)
- Pairs of words or phrases that have the same meaning but are pronounced differently
- Pairs of words or phrases that sound similar but have different meanings
- Pairs of words or phrases that have similar meanings and are pronounced similarly
What is the purpose of using minimal pairs in phonology?
What is the purpose of using minimal pairs in phonology?
- To determine the meaning of a word or phrase in a language
- To compare the pronunciation of words in different languages
- To show that two phones represent the same phoneme in a language
- To demonstrate that two phones represent two separate phonemes in a language (correct)
What did Kenneth Pike contribute to the study of minimal pairs?
What did Kenneth Pike contribute to the study of minimal pairs?
- He discovered the concept of minimal pairs
- He wrote a book called 'Phonemics: a technique for reducing languages to writing' (correct)
- He set up writing systems for unknown languages
- He developed techniques for discovering the phonemes of unknown languages
What type of phonological elements can differ in minimal pairs?
What type of phonological elements can differ in minimal pairs?
Signup and view all the answers
Which of the following is an example of a minimal pair for English vowels?
Which of the following is an example of a minimal pair for English vowels?
Signup and view all the answers
Flashcards are hidden until you start studying
Study Notes
Minimal Pairs in Phonology
- Minimal pairs are words that differ only in one phonological element, such as a single phoneme, to demonstrate the distinctiveness of that element.
Purpose of Minimal Pairs
- The purpose of using minimal pairs is to identify and isolate the distinctive features of phonemes, allowing researchers to study their contrastive properties.
Kenneth Pike's Contribution
- Kenneth Pike, an American linguist, contributed to the development of minimal pairs as a research tool in phonology, highlighting their importance in understanding phonological contrasts.
Phonological Elements in Minimal Pairs
- In minimal pairs, the differing phonological elements can be phonemes, such as vowels or consonants, or suprasegmental features, like tone or stress.
English Vowel Minimal Pairs
- An example of a minimal pair for English vowels is "bat" and "bet", which differ only in their vowel sound (/æ/ vs. /e/).
Studying That Suits You
Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.
