Mpi is a Sino-Tibetan language that is interesting for combining a six-way tone
contrast with a two-way voice-quality contrast.
For more details see:
- Ladefoged, P. (2005): Vowels and consonants: an introduction to the sounds of languages. Malden: Blackwell. (p. 9-12),
- Pompino-Marschall, B. (1995): Einführung in die Phonetik. De Gruyter. (p. 231-233),
- Ladefoged, P. (2005): A Course in Phonetics. Thomson/ Wadsworth Publishers. (chap. 10),
- Laver, J. (1994): Principles of Phonetics. Cambridge University Press. (p. 465-483) and
- International Phonetic Association (1999): Handbook of the International Phonetic Association: A Guide To The Use Of The International Phonetic Alphabet. Cambridge University Press. (p. 14, and 23/24)
In the voice-quality dimension normal (modal) phonation contrasts with a phonation type that Ladefoged refers to as "tense", meaning a moderate form of creaky voice (the term laryngealized has also been used). Esling (1996) has suggested that pharyngealized may be a better term, i.e. it could involve aryepiglottic constriction, probably combined with a raised larynx position (see Esling, 1996, pp. 65-68)
The sonogram display includes both wide- and narrow-band sonograms to help highlight
both the tonal and voice-quality differences. Note, for example, the tendency for
stronger harmonic energy at higher frequencies in the tense voice condition.
(Note that the wide- and narrow-band displays have different frequency axes.)
si ("to be putrid") |
si ("to be dried up") |
|
si ("blood") |
si ("seven") |
|
si ("to roll rope") |
si ("to smoke") |
|
si (a colour) |
si (classifier) |
|
si ("to die") |
si (name) |
|
si ("four") |
si (name) |