The

Phoneme
System
Group 4
Discussions about

The Definition of
Minimal Pairs
Phoneme

Free Variation
Neutralization
 01
The
Definition of
Phoneme
What is
Phoneme?
A phonemes is the smallest unit
of sound within a spoken word.
the word comes from the Greek
word 'phonema' which means
sound.
Phonemes are the smallest
phonetic units in a languange
that are capable of conveying a
distinction in meaning.
 The example of Phonemes:

The Word ‘KEEP’ = /ki:p/

It means to have or continue to have in your possession

/ki:p/ >> /di:p/

The Word ‘DEEP’ = /di:p/

It means going or being a long way down from top or surface

“If you change a phone in a word to another phoneme,

it will change the meaning of the word”
 02
Minimal
Pairs
 Minimal Pairs
A m inim al pair is they are two
similar-sounding words that differ in
only one phonological element and
have distinct meanings. usually
meaning sounds that may confuse
English learners, like the /f/ and /v/
in fan and van, or the /e/ and /ɪ/
in desk and disk.
 Example vowels sound
Minim al Pair /ɪ/ and /i:/ Minim al Pair /e/ and /ɪ/

bin bean belt built

chip cheap fell fill
his he’s head hid
it eat left lift
sit seat mess miss
Minim al Pair /æ / and /ʌ/

bat but
batter butter
cap cup
cat cut
match much
 Example consonant sounds

Minim al Pair /b/ and /v/ Minim al Pair /k/ and /g/
bale veil clock clog
bent vent dock dog
bury very duck dug
bow vow frock frog
muck mug

Minim al Pair /f/ and /v/

fan van
ferry very
leaf leave
off of
 03
Free
Variation
 Definition
In phonetics and phonology, free variation is
an alternative pronunciation of a word (or of a
phoneme in a word) that doesn't affect the
word's meaning.

Free variation is "free" in the sense that a

different pronunciation doesn't result in a
different word or meaning. This is possible
because some allophones and phonemes are
interchangeable and can be substituted for
each other or said to have overlapping
distribution.
 Example
In utterance-final position, there is free variation between
unreleased and aspirated plosives, as demonstrated below:
• Hat [hQt|] or Hat [hQtH]
• Leap [lip] or leap [liph]
• Soap [soap] or soap [sowph]

In the word ‘either’, there is free variation between the phonemes

[i] and [ai], as demonstrated below:
• either [ither] and [aIther]

In English [P], [i], [Qt|] and [ph], [aI], [QtH] are allophones of the
same phoneme.
 04
Neutralisation
 Neutralisation

Neutralisation is the process in the phonology that shows

how two distinct phonemes become phonetically the same.
The fundamental phonetic difference between the sounds is
lost at the point of neutralization. Many languages have the
process of neutralization in their phonology.
 Example of Neutralisation
Minimal pairs can be found for /t/ and /d/ initially, as in till versus dill; medially,
in matter versus madder; finally, as in lit versus lid; and in consonant clusters,
as in trill, font versus drill, fond – and the same is true for the labial and velar
plosives. However, no contrast is possible in an initial cluster, after /s/: spill,
still and skill are perfectly normal English words, but there is no *sbill, *sdill or
*sgill. This phenomenon is known as neutralisation, because the otherwise
robust and regular contrast between two sets of phonemes is neutralised, or
suspended, in a particular context – in this case, after /s/.
Thanks!
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