Harmonizing Tonal Representation: An In-Depth Analysis of Models in Tonal Linguistics

Yishan Huang

doi:10.53057/linfo/2023.5.3.5

Authors

Yishan Huang Department of Linguistics, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, The University of Sydney, Australia.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.53057/linfo/2023.5.3.5

Keywords:

tonal representation, primitive features, tone-bearing unit, feature value, feature geometry

Abstract

In the realm of tonal representation, considerable strides have been taken in the past few decades. Yet, a consensus remains elusive on a number of pivotal questions, including (1) the defining characteristics of a tonal language, (2) the elemental attributes of tones, (3) the identification of the tone-bearing unit, (4) the nature of tonal features as binary or privative, (5) the optimal representation of contour tones, and (6) the arrangement of register and tone features. This review paper embarks on an exploration of the diverse models that have significantly contributed to the abstract representation of tone. By examining the similarities and differences among these models, we aim to expand our comprehension of tonological studies and illuminate pathways for the future investigation of tone and tonal systems.

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Author Biography

Yishan Huang, Department of Linguistics, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, The University of Sydney, Australia.

Yishan Huang obtained her PhD degree from the Australian National University. She is currently an honorary lecturer at the Linguistics Department of the University of Sydney, a research associate at the Australian National University, and a formal assistant professor at Xiamen University Malaysia. Her research interests reside in phonetics, phonology, linguistic interface, and language documentation. Her main research outputs include monographs of ‘Zhangzhou Southern Min: Rhyme tables, Homonyms, Heteronyms, Vernacular Documentation’ (Lincom Europa, 2019), ‘Tones in Zhangzhou: Pitch and Beyond’ (Cambridge Scholars Publishing, 2020), ‘Zhangzhou Southern Min: Syllables and Phonotactics (Lincom Europa, 2020), and more than 50 conference/journal publications.

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Harmonizing Tonal Representation: An In-Depth Analysis of Models in Tonal Linguistics

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Author Biography

Yishan Huang, Department of Linguistics, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, The University of Sydney, Australia.

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