Tonal Minimal Pairs in Xitsonga
A Study of Nouns and Verbs
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 22257458 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Respect Mlambo (0000-0002-0348-6726, North-West University, corresponding author) |
| Year | 2025 |
| Pages | 2889-2900 |
| Publication date | 2025-11-11 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | E-Journal of Humanities Arts and Social Sciences (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 2720-7722 • E-ISSN: 2720-7722 |
| Publisher | Noyam Publishers (PUBLISHER) |
| DOI | 10.38159/ehass.20256121 |
| OpenAlex | W4416105230 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 23 |
This study examined the role of tone in Xitsonga minimal pairs, focusing on nouns and verbs. Using a descriptive qualitative approach, it applied a desktop research method to analyse data from secondary sources such as published literature, dictionaries, grammar books and language texts. Data were purposively sampled and analysed by thematic analysis within the framework of Saussurean structural linguistics. The study identified four key patterns of tonal minimal pairs in Xitsonga. Tonal variation within nouns distinguishes meanings in words with identical segmental structures. In verbs, the tone differentiates forms and alters semantic interpretation. Pitch variation also functions as a marker between lexical categories, distinguishing nouns from verbs. Additionally, tonal minimal pairs appear in other categories, including ideophones, adverbs, and pronouns. These findings highlight the crucial role of tone in Xitsonga’s linguistic system, reinforcing its significance in lexical classification and meaning differentiation. They also enhance the knowledge of Xitsonga’s phonological system, offering insights into how tonal features can create contrasts within the language and inform future phonological and linguistic studies. Keywords: Xitsonga, Minimal Pairs, Tone, Phonological, Nouns, Verbs, Saussurean Structural Linguistics
Construction Grammar · Grammar · Noun · Phonetics · Phonology · Lexicography and Language Studies · Linguistic Variation and Morphology · Syntax, Semantics, Linguistic Variation
Purposive sampling in a qualitative evidence synthesis
Thai tonal confusion patterns in the production of L1 Chinese Zhuang students
Phonetic correlates of stress and tone in a mixed system
Saussure’s View of Language as a System of Arbitrary Signs
Recursivity and Focus in the Prosody of Xitsonga DPs
Linguistic Intuitions
| Citation velocity | historical |
|---|---|
| Highly cited | No |