The /d/ sound is spelled with <d>, <dd> or <de>, and the /l/ sound is <l> or <ll>. Notice how the homograph do makes pairs with with low and loo.
The contrast is between a voiced stop and a voiced lateral continuant, fairly close together in the mouth. It may be a problem for learners when the sounds are contrasted medially, but not generally in other environments.
The /l/ sound in RP is usually a clear /l/ initially or medially and a dark /l/ when final in the syllable. It may also be syllabic, occurring after another consonant without an intervening vowel. The computer identified many pairs contrasting /d/ with syllabic /l/, as in arrived/arrival. I have removed all of these, since they would not be perceived as minimal, nor would they be a problem for any learners.
The only mildly taboo word pair is peed/peal.
Interesting pairs include:
comedian chameleon
dafter laughter
dental lentil
devil level
dipstick lipstick
humidity humility
meadow mellow
overawed overall
reddish relish
Spaniard spaniel
The mean density value is 2.6%. The list makes 335 semantic distinctions, a loading of 57%.
ad Al add Al Adam alum aid ail aiding ailing aids ails assayed assail awed all awed awl baseboard baseball baseboards baseballs bawd ball bawds balls bayed bail bed bell bed bells bed belle beds belles bedded bellied bedding belling bid bill bids bills bidding billing bide bile blackboard blackball blackboards blackballs board bawl boards bawls boarding balling boardroom ballroom boardrooms ballrooms bode bole bodes boles bode bowl bodes bowls booed buhl braid braille broad brawl broads brawls broader brawler buoyed boil card Carl cawed call cedar sealer cedars sealers cede seal cedes seals ceding sealing ceding ceiling chards Charles chid chill chord call chords calls cicada cicala cicadas cicalas cod col cods cols coda cola codas colas code coal codes coals comedian chameleon comedians chameleons concede conceal concedes conceals conceding concealing cooed cool cord call cords calls cording calling cowed cowl creed creel creeds creels cud cull curd curl curds curls D lea D's leas D 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logging dogs logs doll loll dolled lolled dolling lolling dolls lolls dolly lolly dollies lollies dome loam doom loom doomed loomed dooming looming dooms looms door law doors laws door lor dope lope doped loped dopes lopes doping loping Dora Laura doss loss dosses losses dossed lost dost lust dot lot dots lots doubt lout doubts louts Doug lug dour lure douse louse dove love doves loves dowel dowered dower lour dowered loured dowering louring dowers lours duck luck ducks luxe ducky lucky dud dull duds dulls dude lewd dug lug dugs lugs dull lull dulled lulled dulling lulling dulls lulls dummy lumme dump lump dumped lumped dumping lumping dumps lumps dumpy lumpy dumpier lumpier dumpiest lumpiest dung lung dust lust dusts lusts dusted lusted dusting lusting duster lustre dusty lusty dustier lustier dustiest lustiest dye lie dyes lies dyeing lying dyer liar dyers liars Ed L Eddie Ellie erred earl fade fail fades fails fading failing fed fell feed feel feeding feeling feeds feels feeder 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Credit: John Higgins