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Tones:
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There are three tones.
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Low tone marked by
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/ \ /
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High tone marked by
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///
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Mid tone is unmarked. |
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Phonemes have been established on the basis of the contrasts found
among the minimal sounds. Contrasts of various phonemes have been dealt
with in this section.
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Contrast of Vowels:
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Vowels in the language are differentiated on the basis of (i) Tongue
position - the part of the tongue taking part in the production of vowels.
There are three way contrasts of tongue position - front, central and
back, (ii) Tongue heights - there are five relevant heights used in
differentiating these vowels viz. high, lower-high, mid, lower-mid and low
and (iii) Lip position-on the basis of this all the vowels are classed
into unrounded and rounded. The contrasts of vowels are given on the basis
of the articulator features.
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/i/ vs. /I/
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/id/
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‘a Muslim-festival’:
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/It/
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‘here’
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| /nit/ |
‘intention’ : |
/nIt/ |
‘daily’ |
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/I/ vs. /e/
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/tIl/
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mole, sesame :
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/tel/
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‘oil’
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| /kIlo/ |
‘fort, castle’ : |
/kelo/ |
‘banana’ |
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/e/ vs. /€/
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/bé o/
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‘court yard’:
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/bèo/
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‘bullock’(young/stout)
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/ke/
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‘what’ :
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/k€/
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‘vomit’
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/de/
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‘give’ :
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/d€/
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‘and, then’
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/€/
vs. / /
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/p€r/
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‘foot’ :
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/pr/
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‘feather’
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/k€i/
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‘back part of
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the neck’ :
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/ki/
‘beam’
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/e/ vs. //
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/ek/
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‘one’ :
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/k/
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‘a plant’
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/bel/
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‘creeper’ :
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/bl/
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‘fine’
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/€/
vs. /a/
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/€sũ/
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‘this year’ :
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/asũ/
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‘shall come’ (I.p)
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/p€r/
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‘foot’ :
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/par/
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across’
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/b€/
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‘jujbe, enmity’ :
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/bar/
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Saturday’
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vs. /a/
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/m/
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‘mango’ :
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/am/
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‘common, usual’
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/sngo/
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‘voice, throat’ :
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/sango/
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‘field, a
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wooden tool
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with two
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horns used to
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carry thorns’ |
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/dnd/
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‘tooth’ :
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/dand/
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‘bullock’
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/a/ vs. / /
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/ba/
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‘fence’ :
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/b/
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‘banyan tree’
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/ca/
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‘tea’ : |
/c/
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‘drip’
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/ya/
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‘this’ (fem) :
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/y/
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this’ (mas.)
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/u/ vs. /U/
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/buro/
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‘powder’ :
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/bUro/
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‘bad’
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/kui/
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‘lie’ :
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/kUi/
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‘daughter’
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