What is a similar pair?

Definition
	A similar pair is two words in which
	phonetically similar segments occur in quite similar environments, and no phonetically plausible rationale can be found to show how one of the segments has been modified by its environment.

Example (Kaiwa, Brazil)
	The phonetically similar segments being contrasted are [p] and [b].
	[opa] ‘it is finished’ [aba] ‘place’

See also
	What is contrast in analogous environments?

Context for this page:

Concept module: similar pair
In overview module: Glossary (Linguistics): S
In modular book: Glossary of linguistic terms, by Eugene E. Loos (general editor), Susan Anderson (editor), Dwight H., Day, Jr. (editor), Paul C. Jordan (editor), and J. Douglas Wingate (editor)
In bookshelf: Linguistics

This page is an extract from the LinguaLinks Library, Version 5.0 published on CD-ROM by SIL International, 2003. [Ordering information.]

Page content last modified: 5 January 2004

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