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1. Spanish: [n] and [] 1. [gano] “I win” 2. [engaa] “to deceive” 3. [nuka] “nape

ID: 3503081 • Letter: 1

Question

1. Spanish: [n] and []

1.          [gano]              “I win”

2.          [engaa]          “to deceive”

3.          [nuka]              “nape”

4.          [gao]              “I wheeze”

5.          [mano] “hand”

6.          [apa]              “bonus”

7.          [lena]                “vigor”

8.          [lea]                “firewood

Are there any minimal pairs for [n] and []? If not, state distributions for [n] and [].

Are they phonemes, or are they allophones of the same phoneme? Why?

2. Korean: [l] and []

1.          [sal]                   “flesh”

2.          [paam]             “wind”

3.          [amjn]            “instant noodle”

4.          [opot] “robot”

5.          [mulkogi]         “fish”

6.          [mul]                 “water”

7.          [jui]                 “glass”

8.          [milkau]          “(wheat) flour”

9.          [salku] “apricot”

10.        [saa] “love

Are there any minimal pairs for [l] and []? If not, state distributions for [l] and [].

Are they phonemes, or are they allophones of the same phoneme? Why?

Explanation / Answer

Answer.

1. Minimal pairs are words that vary by only a single sound. Thus, in the given case of English words and Spanish words, ‘gano’ and ‘ mano’, enganar and napa are minimal pairs. If we can find minimal pairs for two sounds, that means that there is no possible rule that could have applied to turn one sound into the other. Hence, these two sounds are both phonemes.