The /ɒ/ vowel is usually spelled <o> but we also find <a> in yacht and wad and unusually <oCe> in scone. The /eɪ/ diphthong is normally spelled <aCe>, but we also find <ai> and <ay> and the letter name A.
This contrast is between a short vowel and a diphthong, well separated in the mouth. It is not a problem for any learners.
The only mildly taboo word pair is cock/cake.
Interesting pairs include:
bother bather
copy kepi
fond feigned
knocker nacre
modern maiden
office aphis
trotter traitor
The density value is 2.98%. The pairs make 122 semantic contrasts, giving a loading of 52.8%.
bob babe bobs babes bobby baby bobbies babies Bonn bane boss base bossed based bosses basses bossing basing bother bather bothers bathers box bakes bronze brains Bros brace cobber caber cobbers cabers cobble cable cobbled cabled cobbles cables cobbling cabling cock cake cocked caked cocking caking cocks cakes col kail common caiman commons caimans con cane conned caned conning caning cons canes cop cape cops capes copy kepi copies kepis copper caper coppered capered coppering capering coppers capers cos case cot Kate cottar cater cottars caters crock crake crocks crakes crop crêpe crops crêpes doggo dago doll dale dolls dales dolly daily dollies dailies don Dane dons Danes don deign donned deigned donning deigning dons deigns donnish Danish doss dace dot date dots dates dotted dated dotting dating drop drape dropped draped dropping draping drops drapes flock flake flocked flaked flocking flaking flocks flakes fond feigned font faint fonts faints fosse face fosses faces fox fakes from frame gobble gable gobbled gabled gobbles gables gobbling gabling golly gaily gone gain got gait grot grate grots grates hock hake hollow halo hollows haloes hot hate hots hates hotted hated hotting hating hovering Havering John Jane Johnny Janie knocker nacre loch lake lochs lakes lock lake locks lakes loss lace losses laces lost laced lot late mock make mocking making mocks makes mocker maker mockers makers mock-up make-up mock-ups make-ups Mod made modern maiden moderns maidens Mods maids moll mail molls mails moss mace mosses maces nod neighed Nov knave novel naval novel navel novels navels nozzle nasal nozzles nasals ob Abe Oct ached odd aid odds aids office aphis op ape opt aped ox aches oz A's plod played plot plate plots plates plotted plated pod paid polish palish poll pail polls pails pond pained poppa paper poppas papers popper paper poppers papers pot pate pots pates prod prayed rock rake rocked raked rocking raking rocks rakes rod raid rods raids Ron rain Ronnie rainy rot rate rots rates rotted rated rotting rating scone skein scones skeins Scot skate Scots skates shock shake shocking shaking shocks shakes shocker shaker shockers shakers shod shade shoddy shady shoddier shadier shoddiest shadiest shop shape shopped shaped shopping shaping shops shapes slot slate slots slates slotted slated slotting slating Soc sake softie safety Sol Sale sophist safest sot sate sots sates spot spate spots spates stock stake stocked staked stocking staking stocks stakes stodge stage stodgy stagy swan swain swans swains Tom Thame top tape topped taped topping taping tops tapes topper taper toppers tapers tossed taste trod trade trot trait trots traits trotter traitor trotters traitors vol vale vols vales wad wade wadded waded wadding wading wads wades wallah haler wallahs whalers wan Wayne wand waned was ways watt wait watts waits wrath wraith yacht Yate
John Higgins, Shaftesbury, November 2009