Does anyone know a good minimal pair list? I'd prefer Connacht Irish, but I'd settle for any if I could find a good list. I'm thinking about trying to make some Anki cards featuring them to help train my ear more, and to help others.

Err...what's a minimal pair list?



Redwolf

A list of minimal pairs

But a minimal pair is a pair of words or phrases in a particular language that differ in only one phonological element, such as a phoneme, toneme or chroneme,[1] and have distinct meanings. They are used to demonstrate that two phones constitute two separate phonemes in the language.

I'd like to find a list for Irish, and make flash cards with sound so I can train my ear to distinguish them more. It could also be helpful for learners struggling with broad/slender distinction. I know Connacht Irish doesn't use a few of the most obvious ones, like leabhar/leabhair and capall/capaill, but I'd still love to find a list to get sound for.

I think you can find examples at the beginning of Learning Irish, and in the Handbook of the IPA, there's a chapter on Irish, but the examples are in Gaoth Dobhair Irish.

I think I can make a list of minimal pairs myself, but probably not in Connachta Irish.

_________________
Is fearr Gaeilg na Gaeltaċta ná Gaeilg ar biṫ eile
Agus is í Gaeilg Ġaoṫ Doḃair is binne

It seems you're right. A list of some can be found there, mainly distinguishing broad/slender and the L/N sounds.

bí / buí
cead / cad
díol / daol
fí / faoi
geal / gal
leon / lón
fáil / fál
bile / bille, céile / céille
mala / balla (almost minimal pair, maybe there are other ones for broad l vs. broad ll)
mín / maoin
ní / naoi
ngall / ngeall

pill / poill
fuair / fuar
sí / suí
tinn / toinn

bhí / bhuí
chloígh / chlí
dhíol / ghaol
mhín / mhaoin
a nead (m) / a nead (f)
beár / b'fhearr (few speakers make a difference between r and rr now though)


Pól / babhla
tá / dá
cé / gé
luí / rí
fí / bhí
chionn / thonn
...

_________________
Is fearr Gaeilg na Gaeltaċta ná Gaeilg ar biṫ eile
Agus is í Gaeilg Ġaoṫ Doḃair is binne

There are minimal pair lists for Gaoth Dobhair, An Cheathrú Rua and Corca Duibhne in Brian Ó Raghallaigh's Fuaimeanna na Gaeilge. If you don't have access to a copy I can scan the pages for you.

I would absolutely love a copy of the ones for An Cheathrú Rua if you could. Go raibh míle maith agat!

No problem. Will try to get to them this week.

I have a pdf but since I'm new here, I don't have access to private messages. Can you send me one galaxyrocker and I'll attach the scan?