The /l/ sound is spelled with <l> or <ll>. The /w/ sound is spelled with <w>, <wh> or <qu> in the /kw/ cluster. Notice how the homograph lead makes pairs with weed and wed.
This is a contrast between an alveolar lateral continuant and a bilabial semivowel, both voiced and only occurring in initail or medial position. It is not a problem.
Taboo word pairs include lank/wank and lea/wee.Interesting pairs include:
eclipse equips
lacquer whacker
lizard wizard
Slav suave
The mean density value is 1.7%. The lists make 129 semantic distinctions, a loading of 51%.
allay away clack quack clacked quacked clacking quacking clacks quacks clay qua clean queen cleaned queened cleans queens cleaning queening cleanly queenly clear queer cleared queered clears queers clearing queering clearer queerer clearest queerest clearly queerly clearness queerness clench quench clenched quenched clenches quenches clenching quenching clerk quark clerks quarks cliff quiff cliffs quiffs clip quip clipped quipped clipping quipping clips quips cloche quash cloches quashes clod quad clods quads eclipse equips Glen Gwen interleave interweave interleaves interweaves interleaving interweaving laced waist laced waste lack whack lacked whacked lacking whacking lacks whacks lacks wax lacquer whacker lacquers whackers lading wading lag wag lagged wagged lagging wagging lags wags lain Wayne lain wain lane Wayne lane wain lanes wains lair Ware lair ware lairs wares lair wear lairs wears laird wared lake wake lakes wakes lank wank late wait late weight later waiter laud ward lauded warded lauding warding lauds wards lave waive laved waived laves waives laving waiving lave wave laved waved laves waves laving waving law war laws wars lawn warn lawns warns lay way lays ways lay weigh laying weighing lays weighs lay-out way-out laze ways laze weighs lea we lea wee leas wees lee we lee wee lead wed leaded wedded leading wedding lead weed leading weeding leads weeds lean wean leaned weaned leap weep leaping weeping leapt wept learnt weren't leather weather leathers weathers led wed ledge wedge ledges wedges leer Wear leer weir leers weirs leered weird left weft Leiden widen Leigh we Leigh wee Len wen lend wend lending wending lends wends lent went lens wens lest west let wet let's wets letting wetting lettings wettings letter wetter liar wire liars wires lick Wick lie Y lies Y's lie why lieu woo life wife lifelike wifelike light Wight light white lights whites lighten whiten lightened whitened lightening whitening lightens whitens lighter whiter lightest whitest lighting whiting lily Willy lilies willies lilt wilt lilted wilted lilting wilting lilts wilts limb whim limbs whims line whine lined whined lines whines lining whining liner whiner liners whiners link wink linked winked linking winking links winks lip whip lipped whipped lips whips lisle while lisp wisp lisps wisps list whist live wive lives wives lizard wizard lizards wizards lo whoa lo woe lode woad loft waft lofted wafted lofting wafting lofts wafts lolly Wally loom womb looms wombs lop whop lopped whopped lopping whopping lops whops lor war lord ward lording warding lords wards lore war lot watt lot what low whoa low woe lows woes lurk work lurked worked lurking working lurks works Lymm whim lynch winch lynched winched lynches winches lynching winching slag swag slain swain slam swam Slav suave slay sway slaying swaying slays sways sleep sweep sleeps sweeps sleeping sweeping slept swept sleety sweetie sleigh sway sleighs sways sleighed swayed sleighing swaying sleighed suede slim swim slimming swimming slims swims slimmer swimmer slimmers swimmers sling swing slinging swinging slings swings slung swung slob swab slobs swabs sloop swoop sloops swoops slop swap slopped swapped slopping swapping slops swaps slot swat slots swats slotted swatted slotting swatting slum swum
John Higgins, Shaftesbury, December 2010.