Minimal Pair List Consonants /t/ versus /j/, 89 pairs
The spelling of /t/ is <t> and we also see a silent letter combination <tw> in two . The /j/ sound is <y> or <ew> in ewe and occurs in the letter name U . All the pairs but one show the sounds contrasting initially in the word. I discarded reluctantly the pair Toto/yoyo . The two common pronunciations of your make pairs with tore and tour .
The contrast is between a voiceless plosive and a voiced semivowel, fairly close together in the mouth. It is not a problem for learners.
Interesting pairs include:
sorter sawyer toga yoga
The mean density value is 0.5%. The list makes 45 semantic distinctions, a loading of 60%.
sorter sawyer sorters sawyers T ye ta yah tack yak tacks yaks tack yack tacks yacks tacking yacking tacked yacked tail Yale tale Yale talk york talks yorks talked yorked talking yorking tall yawl tank yank tanked yanked tanking yanking tanks yanks tap yap tapped yapped tapping yapping taps yaps tar yah tarn yarn tarns yarns tarred yard tatters yatters tawse yours Tay yea tea ye tear year tears years te ye tell yell telling yelling tells yells ten yen tens yens tern yearn terns yearns Tess yes to ewe to U to yew to you toga yoga tongue young too ewe too yew too you tool you'll tool Yule tooth youth toque yoke toques yokes tor yaw tors yaws tor yore tor your tors yours tore yaw torn yawn torque york tot yacht tots yachts totted yachted totting yachting tour your tours yours towel yowl towels yowls tuck yuck tucker yucca turn yearn turns yearns turned yearned turning yearning turnings yearnings two ewe twos ewes two U twos U's two yew twos yews two you twos use
