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==Tones==
==Tones==
All vowels clearly display a distinctive feature: the '''tone'''.
All vowels make a distinction among six different tones, with the exception of the phonemes [æ] and [œ], which distinguish only four different tones. Tone is a clearly distinctive feature:
jò - jô
<small>I - we</small>


lɛ̄ - lɛ́ - lɛ̱́
Using the vowel [a] as an example, the tones, and their graphic transcription, are:
<small>eagle - to say - to cultivate</small>
*'''a''': [a<sup><small>33</small></sup>], ''mid tone''.
*'''à''': [a<sup><small>53</small></sup>], ''falling tone''.
*'''á''': [a<sup><small>13</small></sup>], ''rising lower tone''.
*'''á̱''': [a<sup><small>23</small></sup>], ''rising higher tone''.
*'''â''': [a<sup><small>353</small></sup>], ''rising-falling lower'' or ''apical lower tone''.
*'''â''': [a<sup><small>453</small></sup>], ''rising-falling higher'' or ''apical higher tone''.


There are 7 possible tonal distinctions, that can be expressed on every single vowel. These distinctions arise from tone leves and falling or rising features among these leves.
The mid tone is usually regarded as a ''neutral tone'', not being graphically expressed by any diacritic mark. The rising and the falling tones are regarded as ''linear tones''. The rising-falling and the falling-rising tones are rearded as ''spike tones''. This distinction is relevant for stress positioning.
The five distinguished tone leves are marked by a numeral sign:


*[V<sup><small>5</small></sup>], ''high level''
Tone variations are abundant among dialects, both diachronically and synchronically. Generally speaking, however, five tonal types are always distinguished.
*[V<sup><small>3</small></sup>], ''mid level''
*[V<sup><small>1</small></sup>], ''low level''
 
These levels produce three tones, called ''linear'' (<small>as a graphic example of the tones, the vowel [a] is used</small>):
 
*[V<sup><small>55</small></sup>]: ā
*[V<sup><small>33</small></sup>]: a
*[V<sup><small>11</small></sup>]: a̱
 
Tones can be expressed by an alteration of the level value. This kind of tones is called ''uneven tones''. If the tone is altered towards an higher level, they are called ''rising tones'', while if the tone is altered towards a lower level, they are called ''falling tones'':
 
''Rising'' tones:
 
*[V<sup><small>35</small></sup>]: á
*[V<sup><small>13</small></sup>]: á̱
 
''Falling'' tones:
 
*[V<sup><small>31</small></sup>]: à
*[V<sup><small>53</small></sup>]: ā̀
 
The incidence of every tone is not homogenous among the words. Some of the tones are considerably less widespread than others. Generally speaking, linear tones more widespread than the uneven tones.

Revision as of 10:54, 23 May 2025

Tones

All vowels make a distinction among six different tones, with the exception of the phonemes [æ] and [œ], which distinguish only four different tones. Tone is a clearly distinctive feature:

jò - jô
I - we

Using the vowel [a] as an example, the tones, and their graphic transcription, are:

  • a: [a33], mid tone.
  • à: [a53], falling tone.
  • á: [a13], rising lower tone.
  • á̱: [a23], rising higher tone.
  • â: [a353], rising-falling lower or apical lower tone.
  • â: [a453], rising-falling higher or apical higher tone.

The mid tone is usually regarded as a neutral tone, not being graphically expressed by any diacritic mark. The rising and the falling tones are regarded as linear tones. The rising-falling and the falling-rising tones are rearded as spike tones. This distinction is relevant for stress positioning.

Tone variations are abundant among dialects, both diachronically and synchronically. Generally speaking, however, five tonal types are always distinguished.