The /ɒ/ vowel is usually spelled <o> but we also find <a> after <w> in wad. The /aɪ/ diphthong is normally spelled <iCe>, but we also find <igh> and <ay> and the letter name Y.
This contrast is between a short vowel and a diphthong. The starting position of the tongue in the mouth is fairly close, but it is not a problem for any learners.
Interesting pairs include:
borrowed byroad
crossed Christ
knotty nightie
toddle tidal
upon opine
The density value is 2.62%. The pairs make 97 semantic contrasts, giving a loading of 51.1%.
allot alight allots alights allotted alighted allotting alighting blonde blind blondes blinds blot blight blotted blighted blotting blighting blots blights blotter blighter blotters blighters bodied bided bond bind bonding binding bonds binds Bonn bine borrowed byroad box bikes bronze brines con kine conned kind cot kite cots kites crops cripes crossed Christ dock dike docked diked docking diking docks dikes don dine donned dined donning dining dons dines doss dice dossed diced dosses dices dossing dicing fond find fonder finder god guide gods guides hock hike hocked hiked hocking hiking hocks hikes hod hide hods hides Holland Highland Hollander Highlander Hollanders Highlanders holly highly hot height hots heights job gibe jobbed gibed jobbing gibing jobs gibes knot knight knots knights knotted knighted knotting knighting knotty nightie loch like lochs likes lock like locked liked locking liking locks likes loll lisle loss lice lot light lots lights mocha mica mock mike mocks mikes moll mile molls miles moss mice odd I'd oddly idly odds ides of I've outshone outshine oz I's plod plied plot plight plots plights plotted plighted plotting plighting pock pike pocks pikes pod pied poll pile polls piles pond pined pop pipe popped piped popping piping pops pipes poppa piper poppas pipers popper piper popper pipers prod pride prodded prided prodding priding prods prides prom prime proms primes rhomb rhyme rhombs rhymes rock Reich rocks Reichs Rod Ryde rod ride rods rides Ron Rhine rot Rheydt rot right rots rights rotted righted rotting righting rot write rotting writing rots writes rotter writer rotters writers shod shied shone shine slot sleight slots sleights slotted slighted slotting slighting sod side sodded sided sodding siding sods sides sot cite sots cites sot site sots sites sot sight sots sights spot spite spots spites spotted spited spotting spiting strop stripe stropped striped strops stripes stroppy stripy swan swine swap swipe swapped swiped swapping swiping swaps swipes toddy tidy toddies tidies toddle tidal Tom thyme top type topped typed topping typing tops types topographical typographical topographically typographically tot tight tots tights totter tighter trod tried trot trite upon opine vol vile wad wide Wally wily wan whine wand whined wands winds wanner whiner was Y's watt Wight watt white watts whites whop wipe whopping wiping whops wipes whopped wiped whopper wiper whoppers wipers
John Higgins, Shaftesbury, November 2009