floating tone
A "floating tone" is a tonal feature in some languages where the tone exists without being tied to a specific syllable, influencing the pitch of nearby syllables.
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Definition
C2Tonal Languages
(technical, academic)A tone that is not linked to a specific syllable but affects the pitch of adjacent syllables.
Example
- In some African languages, a floating tone can cause the pitch of a syllable to change even though the tone itself is not pronounced.
C2Phonology
(technical, academic)A tonal element that exists independently of any consonant or vowel, influencing the tonal pattern of neighboring morphemes.
Example
- Floating tones often lead to downstep or upstep in the pitch of surrounding syllables.
Similar
Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "floating tone":
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