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Vowels 15 and 18, /ɔɪ/ versus /ɪə/    27 pairs      

The /ɔɪ/ diphthong is spelled <oi> and <oy>. The /ɪə/ diphthong is spelled <eer>, <ear> or <ie>.

This is a contrast between two diphthongs with different starting positions and different directions of movement. It is not a problem for learners.

The density figure is 3.45%. The set makes 18 semantic contrasts giving a loading of 62.1%.

boy beer
  boys beers
boy bier
  boys biers  
buoy beer
  buoys beers 
buoy bier
  buoys biers
buoyed beard 
cloy clear
  cloyed cleared 
  cloys clears 
doily dearly 
joy jeer
  joyed jeered 
  joys jeers 
loin lien 
  loins liens 
noise nears 
poise peers 
poise piers
Roy rhea
toy tear
  toys tears 
toy tier
  toys tiers  
void veered 

Credit: John Higgins