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PHONOLOGY |
1.1.
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Phonemic Inventory
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1.1.1.
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Tones :
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(Tone is marked on the vowel
nucleus).
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| Level |
... |
v |
| Rising |
... |
 |
| Falling |
... |
 |
Rising-falling
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...
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1.1.2.
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Vowels :
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1.1.3.
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Consonants :
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| p |
t |
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k |
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| b |
d |
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g |
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c |
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j |
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s |
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h |
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z |
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| m |
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n |
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 |
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l |
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r |
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w
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y
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1.2
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Analytical Criteria
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1.2.0
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The unit taken for analysis is the `word’
(for definition refer 2.0.) phonologically described as the string of sounds
occurring between pauses. However to facilitate the description, two more
units are recognized within `word’ viz., the morpheme and the syllable. A
morpheme is a minimal meaningful unit of speech. The syllable is described
in section 1.6.
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| 1.2.1. |
Tones : |
All languages use pitch variation to convey
semantic differences. The information conveyed may be syntactic (Intonation)
or lexical (Tone). Tone languages are divided into two groups, Register Tone
Languages where the tone marking the lexical item is comparatively steady
throughout as opposed to Contour Tone Languages, to which Mishmi belongs, in
which the various tones include some in which the essential feature is a
changing pitch (Pike, 1948).
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To classify the tones we need two parameters. One is the
direction of the changing pitch. Here we get a three-way distinction,
rising, falling and convex (Wang, 1967). The second is the feature contour.
This feature distinguishes the level tones from the other tones. Thus we
have four tones.
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| Level |
... |
(Not marked) |
| Rising |
... |
/ |
| Falling |
... |
\ |
| Rising-falling
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...
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^
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