MINIMAL PAIR Meaning and
Definition
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A minimal pair is a concept in phonetics and phonology that refers to a set of words or utterances that differ in only one phonological element, usually a single sound segment. It is a tool used in linguistics to analyze and illustrate the contrastive phonemic or phonetic features of a particular language.
In a minimal pair, all the phonemes except one are the same, while the differing phoneme causes a change in meaning. For example, in English, the words "cat" and "bat" form a minimal pair because the only difference between them is the initial sound, /k/ and /b/ respectively. Similarly, "pin" and "bin" form a minimal pair due to the contrasting sounds /p/ and /b/ at the beginning.
Minimal pairs are used to determine the phonemic inventory of a language by isolating individual sounds and contrasting them with others to establish if they are distinct phonemes. They are also employed to demonstrate phonological rules and patterns, where the alteration or substitution of a single sound can lead to a different word or meaning.
The study and analysis of minimal pairs helps linguists identify and describe the phonological system of a language, discover phonemic categories, and investigate various phonological processes such as assimilation, deletion, or substitution. Additionally, minimal pairs assist in language teaching and acquisition, as they aid learners in recognizing and producing the sounds that differentiate words in the target language.
Common Misspellings for MINIMAL PAIR
- ninimal pair
- kinimal pair
- jinimal pair
- munimal pair
- mjnimal pair
- mknimal pair
- monimal pair
- m9nimal pair
- m8nimal pair
- mibimal pair
- mimimal pair
- mijimal pair
- mihimal pair
- minumal pair
- minjmal pair
- minkmal pair
- minomal pair
- min9mal pair
- min8mal pair
- mininal pair
Etymology of MINIMAL PAIR
The term "minimal pair" originated in the field of linguistics, specifically in phonetics and phonology. It was first introduced by the linguist Leonard Bloomfield, who is often considered as the founder of American structural linguistics.
The word "minimal" derives from the Latin word "minimus", meaning "smallest" or "least". In linguistics, the term refers to the smallest unit of meaning or sound that can change the meaning of a word.
The word "pair" has its roots in Old French "paire" and Latin "paria", both meaning "a pair". It refers to two items or elements that are combined or contrasted with each other.
Therefore, the term "minimal pair" refers to a pair of words that differ by only one sound or phoneme, resulting in a change in meaning.
