You Are a Non-English-Speaking Linguist Using a Minimal-Pair Test to Study

question 46

Multiple Choice

You are a non-English-speaking linguist using a minimal-pair test to study the sound system of English.You pronounce two short words that are exactly the same except for one sound: "bat" and "vat." Then you ask your informants if the difference in sound has any effect on meaning.They say,"Of course-wouldn't you prefer to have your dinner cooked in a vat instead of a bat?" What are these two sounds examples of?

• A) phonemes
• B) vocal qualifiers
• C) vocal segregates
• D) morphemes

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Definitions:

Iced Tea

A chilled beverage made by cooling brewed tea and typically served with ice, sometimes sweetened or flavored.

Complementary Goods

Products or services that are typically consumed together, such that demand for one increases demand for the other.

Coffee

A brewed drink prepared from roasted coffee beans, which are the seeds of berries from the Coffea plant, and is one of the most popular beverages globally.

Lawnmowers

Equipment used in the maintenance of lawns and gardens that cuts grass to an even height, available in various types including push, riding, and robotic mowers.