Some English word pairs differ mainly by vowel length and vowel quality, and confusing them can change meaning. In this topic, you’ll practice minimal pairs by making the short vowel crisp and the long vowel noticeably longer without turning it into a new syllable. Listen for the difference between ship and sheep, then aim for the same contrast in your own speech. Keep your consonants steady so you can focus on the vowel, and repeat until speech recognition consistently hears the intended word.
Some English word pairs differ mainly by vowel length and vowel quality, and confusing them can change meaning. In this topic, you’ll practice minimal pairs by making the short vowel crisp and the long vowel noticeably longer without turning it into a new syllable. Listen for the difference between ship and sheep, then aim for the same contrast in your own speech. Keep your consonants steady so you can focus on the vowel, and repeat until speech recognition consistently hears the intended word.