Minimal Pair List Consonants /ʒ/ versus /n/, 7 pairs


   Minimal pair: Consonants /ʒ/ versus /n/, 7 pairs

The /ʒ/ sound is spelled with <ge> in words of French origin or <su> in leisured and <zu> in azure . The /n/ sound is spelled with <n> or <nn>.

This is a contrast between a fricative and a nasal continuant, both in the same region of the mouth and both voiced. It is not a problem.

Since there is a huge discrepancy between the common /n/ sound and the rare /ʒ/, the mean density value barely registers at well under 0.1%. The lists make 6 semantic distinctions, a loading of 86%.

azure anna
  azures annas 
beige bane 
leisured Leonard 
luge loon 
luges loonies 
rouge rune

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