Consonants /ʒ/ versus /l/, 6 pairs     [beigbail.html]

The /ʒ/ sound is spelled with <ge> in words of French origin or <zu> in seizure. The /l/ sound is spelled with <l>.

This is a contrast between a fricative and a lateral continuant, both voiced. It is not a problem.

Since there is a huge discrepancy between the common /l/ sound and the rare /ʒ/, the mean density value barely registers at well under 0.1%. The lists make 3 semantic distinctions, a loading of 50%, insignificant in such a small sample.

beige bail 
rouge rule
  rouged ruled
  rouging ruling
seizure sealer 
  seizures sealers 

John Higgins, Shaftesbury, December 2010.