Minimal pair [y] - [y] in Latin

1. What is the minimal pair Ɒ and ɔ :/?
2. What is the minimal pair TƩ and DƷ?
3. What is minimal pair ʤ?
4. How was Y pronounced in Latin?

What is the minimal pair Ɒ and ɔ :/?

Minimal Pair /ɒ/ and /ɔ:/

The biggest difference between these two sounds is that /ɒ/ is a short vowel and /ɔ:/ is a long one. The mouth position is also slightly different, with the mouth in /ɔ:/ being slightly tighter and more rounded.

What is the minimal pair TƩ and DƷ?

These two are pronounced with exactly the same mouth position but /dʒ/ uses the voice, whereas /tʃ/ is just a sudden puff of air similar to a sneeze.

What is minimal pair ʤ?

/ʤ/ is an explosive sound that is like a voiced version of /ʧ/ and therefore almost like a sneeze and so it is impossible to extend the sound for very long. /z/ is a smooth sound that is a voiced version of /s/ and so can be extended as long as you like.

How was Y pronounced in Latin?

Because [y] was not a native sound of Latin, Latin speakers had trouble pronouncing it, and it was usually pronounced /i/.