Phonology: An Introduction to Minimal Distinctions 1.2

Phonology: Introduction to Minimal Distinctions 1.2

Please wait while the activity loads.
If this activity does not load, try refreshing your browser. Also, this page requires javascript. Please visit using a browser with javascript enabled.

If loading fails, click here to try again

This exercise provides you with more practice at distinguishing phonemes by noting the feature that differentiates one from the other. For each of the following questions, select the feature that distinguishes one phoneme from the other. Consonants have three distinguishing features: 1. POA– place of articulation 2. MOA – manner of articulation 3. Voicing Vowels have four distinguishing features: 1. Backness 2. Height 3. Tensing 4. Lip rounding

Start

You scored %%SCORE%% out of %%TOTAL%%.

Your answers are highlighted below.

Question 1

What feature distinguishes these two phonemes one from the other? /z, ʒ/

A	MOA Hint: /z, ʒ/ differ only in POA. /z/ is a voiced alveolar fricative. /ʒ/ is a voiced post-alveolar fricative.
B	voicing Hint: /z, ʒ/ differ only in POA. /z/ is a voiced alveolar fricative. /ʒ/ is a voiced post-alveolar fricative.
C	POA

Question 2

What feature distinguishes these two phonemes one from the other? /θ,ð/

A	POA Hint: /θ, ð/ differ only in voicing. /θ/ is a voiceless, interdental fricative. / ð / is a voiced interdental fricative.
B	MOA Hint: /θ, ð/ differ only in voicing. /θ/ is a voiceless, interdental fricative. / ð / is a voiced interdental fricative.
C	voicing

Question 3

What feature distinguishes these two phonemes one from the other? /h, ʔ/

A	POA Hint: /h, ʔ/ differ only in MOA. /h/ is a voiceless glottal fricative. /ʔ/ is a voiceless glottal stop (plosive).
B	voicing Hint: /h, ʔ/ differ only in MOA. /h/ is a voiceless glottal fricative. /ʔ/ is a voiceless glottal stop (plosive).
C	MOA

Question 4

What feature distinguishes these two phonemes one from the other? /ɛ, ɪ/

A	backness Hint: /ɛ, ɪ/ differ only in height. /ɛ/ is [-back, -high, -low, lax, –round]. /ɪ/ is [-back, +high, lax, –round].
B	rounding Hint: /ɛ, ɪ/ differ only in height. /ɛ/ is [-back, -high, -low, lax, –round]. /ɪ/ is [-back, +high, lax, –round].
C	tenseness Hint: /ɛ, ɪ/ differ only in height. /ɛ/ is [-back, -high, -low, lax, –round]. /ɪ/ is [-back, +high, lax, –round].
D	height

Question 5

What feature distinguishes these two phonemes one from the other? /b, d/

A	voicing Hint: /b,d/ differ only in POA. /b/ is a voiced bilabial stop (plosive). /d/ is a voiced alveolar stop (plosive).
B	MOA Hint: /b,d/ differ only in POA. /b/ is a voiced bilabial stop (plosive). /d/ is a voiced alveolar stop (plosive).
C	POA

Question 6

What feature distinguishes these two phonemes one from the other? /u, o/

A	backness Hint: /u, o/ differ only in height. /u/ is [+back, +high, tense, +round]. /o/ is [+back, -high, - low, tense, +round].
B	height
C	tenseness Hint: /u, o/ differ only in height. /u/ is [+back, +high, tense, +round]. /o/ is [+back, -high, - low, tense, +round].
D	rounding Hint: /u, o/ differ only in height. /u/ is [+back, +high, tense, +round]. /o/ is [+back, -high, - low, tense, +round].

Question 7

What feature distinguishes these two phonemes one from the other? /n, ŋ/

A	POA
B	MOA Hint: /n, ŋ/ differ only in POA. /n/ is an alveolar nasal (voiced unless otherwise indicated). / ŋ/ is a velar nasal (voiced unless otherwise indicated).
C	voicing Hint: /n, ŋ/ differ only in POA. /n/ is an alveolar nasal (voiced unless otherwise indicated). / ŋ/ is a velar nasal (voiced unless otherwise indicated).

Question 8

What feature distinguishes these two phonemes one from the other? /s, z/

A	POA Hint: /s, z/ differ only in voicing. /s/ is a voiceless alveolar fricative. /z/ is a voiced alveolar fricative. These two phonemes share POA and MOA.
B	voicing
C	MOA Hint: /s, z/ differ only in voicing. /s/ is a voiceless alveolar fricative. /z/ is a voiced alveolar fricative. These two phonemes share POA and MOA.

Question 9

What feature distinguishes these two phonemes one from the other? /ʃ, tʃ/ or /š, č/

A	MOA
B	POA Hint: /ʃ, tʃ/ or /š,č/ differ only in MOA. /ʃ/ or /š/ is a voiceless post-alveolar fricative. /tʃ/ or /č/ is a voiceless post-alveolar affricate.
C	voicing Hint: /ʃ, tʃ/ or /š,č/ differ only in MOA. /ʃ/ or /š/ is a voiceless post-alveolar fricative. /tʃ/ or /č/ is a voiceless post-alveolar affricate.

Question 10

What feature distinguishes these two phonemes one from the other? /ɑ, æ/

A	backness
B	height Hint: /ɑ, æ/ differ only in backness. /a/ is [+back, +low, lax, -round]. /æ/ is [-back, +low, lax, -round].
C	tense Hint: /ɑ, æ/ differ only in backness. /a/ is [+back, +low, lax, -round]. /æ/ is [-back, +low, lax, -round].
D	rounding Hint: /ɑ, æ/ differ only in backness. /a/ is [+back, +low, lax, -round]. /æ/ is [-back, +low, lax, -round].

Once you are finished, click the button below. Any items you have not completed will be marked incorrect. Get Results

There are 10 questions to complete.

Return to Phonology Exercises

Phonology: Introduction to Minimal Distinctions 1.2

Your Subscription Information

Suggestions, Comments, & Questions