Definition of Tone contour
A tone contour or contour tone is a tone in a tonal language which shifts from one pitch to another over the course of the syllable or word. Tone contours are especially common in East Asia, Southeast Asia, West Africa, Nilo-Saharan languages, Khoisan languages, Oto-Manguean languages and some languages of South America.
Related terms
Tone (linguistics)
In linguistics, tone is a language's use of pitch contour, pitch register, or both to…
Pitch contour
In linguistics, speech synthesis, and music, the pitch contour of a sound is a function…
Downstep
Downstep is a phenomenon in tone languages in which if two syllables have the same tone…
Pitch-accent language
A pitch-accent language is a type of language that, when spoken, has certain syllables…
Tone hole
A tone hole is an opening in the body of a wind instrument which, when alternately…
Musical tone
Traditionally in Western music, a musical tone is a steady periodic sound. A musical…
Quarter tone
A quarter tone is a pitch halfway between the usual notes of a chromatic scale or an…
Boundary tone
The term boundary tone refers to a rise or fall in pitch that occurs in speech at the…
Tonal memory
In music, tonal memory or "aural recall" is the ability to remember a specific tone…
Frequently asked questions
What is Tone contour?
A tone contour or contour tone is a tone in a tonal language which shifts from one pitch to another over the course of the syllable or word.