249 FLEECE /iː/ “sheep” vs KIT /ɪ/ “ship” Potentially Embarrassing Mix-Ups (minimal pairs in the order /i:/ - /ɪ/) 1 beach – ! bitch 2 piece – ! piss 3 sheet - ! shit
Phrases (with near minimal pairs not necessarily in the order /i:/ - /ɪ/) 1 eat it! 2 cheap as chips 5 Still stealing 6 sit on the seat 3 did the deed 4 Jean’s gin 7 Tim’s on the team 8 shipping sheep
Sentences (with minimal pairs not necessarily in the order /i:/ - /ɪ/)
1 All six Sikhs in the teamwere called Tim. 2 After fillingmy stomach with eels, I’m feeling ill. 3 At least I didn’t leave the list back in London where I live. 4 ! The spreadsheets are shit. 5 ! Don’t ski off-piste when you’re pissed. 6 ! I was bitching about the beach.
Mixed Here there are no minimal pairs – just words with either /i:/ or /ɪ/
Phrases 1 Middle East 2 People skills 3 busy city 4 Fridge freezer 5 Speaking English 6 Team building 7 Spring cleaning 8 Committeemeeting