Wednesday 5 June 2013

minimal pair sentences with weakforms - #2

Here's a list of sentences which form minimal pairs due to the use of a word used either in its strongform or its weakform.

1.  You mean that /ðәt/ Guy is your boyfriend? - You mean that /ðæt/ guy is your boyfriend?
2.  I shall send the one with chocolate. - I shall send thee one with chocolate.
3.  After the incident, he’s taken to aspirin. - After the incident, he’s taken two aspirin.
4.  They saw that /ðət/ petrol can /kən/ explode. - They saw that /ðæt/ petrol can /kæn/ explode.
5.  They'll have /əv/ boiled eggs. - They'll have /hæv/ boiled eggs.
6.  He's eaten something he shouldn't have /əv/. - He's eaten something he shouldn't have /hæv/.
7.  There /ðə/ shouldn't be a problem. - There /ðeə/ shouldn't be a problem.
8.  Look at /əp/ Bill's address. - Look up /ʌp/ Bill's address.
9.  Did she arrive at a quarter to /tə/ two? - Did she arrive at a quarter to /tuː/ too?
10.  That's the reason I chose those for children. - That's the reason I chose those four children.
11.  The electrician left for Leeds this morning. - The electrician left four leads this morning.
12.  Father's bringing home /sʌm/ missionary for dinner. - Father's bringing home /səm, sm/ missionary for dinner.
13.  I'm giving her a picture that I shall have /hæv/ painted by Christmas. - I'm giving her a picture that I shall have /həv/ painted by Christmas.
14.  I've only known it four /fɔː/ weeks. - I've only known it for /fə/ weeks.
15.  He was going too /tuː/ fast. - He was going to /tə/ fast.
16.  A: I was 18 months before I could walk. B: I was /wəz/ two - B: I was /wɒz/, too.
17.  A: Which flight are you on? B: The 526 /faɪv tuː sɪks/. - B: The five to six /faɪv tə sɪks/.
18.  Bread and /n/ butter. - Bread and /ænd/ butter.
19.  I expect that /ðæt/ John told them. - I expect that /ðәt/ John told them.
20.  Jack was brave, but not so /səʊ/ Marmaduke. - Jack was brave, but not Sir /sə/ Marmaduke.
21.  She pinched his but /bət/ only for a second. - She pinched his butt /bʌt/ only for a second.
22.  Fish nor /nə/ flesh. - Fish gnaw /nɔː/ flesh.
23.  I won't buy an /ən/ old paper. - I won't buy Ann /æn/ old paper.

Credit must be given to these persons for creating the sentences:
  • Jack Windsor Lewis
  • John Maidment
  • Emilio Márquez

Monday 3 June 2013

minimal pair sentences with weakforms

I'm looking for pairs of sentences differing by a word which has both a weakform and a strongform pronunciation. Here are two examples:
  1. Get the key /ɒf/, /əv/ that door. (I know it's actually not a proper minimal pair)
  2. Father's bringing home /sʌm/, /səm/ missionary for dinner. (My thanks to JWL!)
Do you know of any lists, books, webpages containing such minimal pair sentences?

Saturday 1 June 2013

tight-fisted sleeping bag supplier

My daughter bought a sleeping bag recently from a British producer of equipment for climbers, expeditionists, mountaineers etc. The bag came with "a good night's sleep guarantee".
After having read the German translation I tossed and turned in my 'sleeping bag'.


This is how Google Translator would have rendered the English text into German:
Wir sind so zuversichtlich, dass diese Schlafsack hält Sie warm und komfortabel, dass sie mit unserer "Eine gute Nachtruhe" Garantie kommt.
Sollten Sie sich entscheiden, dass dieser Schlafsack nicht so warm, wie Sie es haben wir es zu einem von wärmeren Spezifikation Upgrade erwartet - gibt Ihnen Frieden des Verstandes, um darüber hinaus zu gehen.
 Dear supplier! Do you have to be so stingy? A professional translator would have cost you less than 50 quid.
Tsk, tsk, tsk!