Vowels 4 and 20, /æ/ versus /ʊə/    9 pairs      [gadgourd.html]

The /æ/ vowel is spelled <a> followed by two consonants or by one consonant in a monosyllable. The /ʊə/ diphthong is spelled <our> or <ur> in lured.

This contrast is between a short vowel and a diphthong well separated in the mouth, so it should cause no problems.

The density value is low at 0.85%. The pairs make 7 semantic contrasts, giving a high loading of 78.8%, not significant with such a short list.

bass bourse
dally dourly
gad gourd
  gads gourds
harry houri
  harries houris
lad lured
mad moored
pally poorly

John Higgins, Shaftesbury, November 2009