What tone teaches us about language

Bibliographic Data

ID2961771
AuthorsLarry M Hyman (0000-0002-7676-6358, University of California, Berkeley, corresponding author)
Year2018
Volume94
Issue3
Pages698-709
Publication date2018-01-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueLanguage (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0097-8507 • E-ISSN: 1535-0665
PublisherProject MUSE (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1353/lan.2018.0040
OpenAlexW2891778984
LanguageEN
Citations received13
References cited18

In 'Tone: Is it different?' (Hyman 2011a), I suggested that 'tone is like segmental phonology in every way-only more so', emphasizing that there are some things that only tone can do. In this presidential address my focus extends beyond phonology, specifically addressing what tone tells us about the integration (vs. compartmentalization) of grammar. I discuss some rather striking examples that demonstrate problems for the strict separation of phonology, morphology, and syntax, each time posing the question, 'What else is like this outside of tone?'. A particularly interesting property that is strictly limited to tone is what I term syntagmatic relativity. I suggest that the uniqueness of tonal phenomena is due to the versatility of pitch, which can be manipulated with a wide range of linguistic functions. Given this versatility, I end by considering the question, 'Why isn't tone universal

Focus (optics · Grammar · Linguistics · Phonology · Physics · Syntagmatic analysis · Syntax · Tone (literature · Computer Science · Multisensory perception and integration · Neuroscience and Music Perception · Philosophy · Phonetics and Phonology Research · Psychology

Tools

Open DOISci-HubOpen Access