Psycholinguistics/Components of Speech/Learning Exercise Answer Key

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.

Distinctive Features	ASL Term
hand configuration	Designator (Dez)
place or location of sign	Tabula (Tab)
direction of movement of the sign	Signation (Sig)
orientaion

2.

	ASL sign for 'boy'	ASL sign for 'woman'	ASL sign for 'man'
Location	forehead	chin/chest	forehead/chest
Movement	touch	down	down
Palm Orientation	down	to the side	down

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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