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tone_system
has definitions from the field of linguistics
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[ noun ] (linguistics) the system of tones used in a particular language or dialect of a tone language
Synonyms Used in print (H. A. Gleason, "Review of African language studies...)It is obvious enough that linguists in_general have been less successful in coping_with tone_systems than with consonants or vowels . By contrast , even experienced linguists commonly know no_more of the range of possibilities in tone_systems than the over-simple distinction between register and contour_languages . Since tone_systems typically comprise fewer units than either consonant or vowel_systems , we might expect that they would be the easiest part of a phonologic analysis . Tone_systems are certainly more complex than the number of units would suggest , and often analytically more difficult than much larger consonantal_systems . Related terms |
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