User:Bukkia/sandboxVIII

Tones

All vowels clearly display a distinctive feature: the tone.

ðɛ̄ - ðɛ́ - ðɛ̱́
eagle - to say - to cultivate

There are 18 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 five distinguished tone leves are marked by a numeral sign:

• [V⁵], high level
• [V⁴], high-mid level
• [V³], mid level
• [V²], mid-low level
• [V¹], low level

The high tone, the mid tone and the low tone are regarded as primary levels, while the high-mid level and the mid-low level are called middle levels.

Primary levels produce three tones, called linear (as a graphic example of the tones, the vowel [a] is used):

• [V⁵⁵]: ā
• [V³³]: a
• [V¹¹]: a̱

Conversely, middle levels cannot produce any linear tones.

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:

• [V³⁵]: á
• [V²⁵]: ā́
• [V¹⁴]: a̱̋
• [V¹³]: á̱

Falling tones:

• [V⁵³]: ā̀
• [V⁵²]: ā̏
• [V⁴¹]: ȁ̱
• [V³¹]: à

Another tonal distinction is expressed by two types of alterations in tone levels. This kind of tones is called spike tones. If the spike is altered towards an higher level, they are called apex tones, while if the spike is altered towards a lower level, they are called bottom tones:

Apex tones:

• [V⁴⁵³]: ā̂
• [V³⁵⁴]: ā̃
• [V¹³²]: â
• [V²³¹]: â̱

Bottom tones:

• [V⁵³⁴]: ǎ
• [V⁴³⁵]: ā̌
• [V³¹²]: ã̱
• [V²¹³]: ǎ̱

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 are the most widespread, while the uneven tones are the second commonest. Spike tones are the least widespread.