Ibibio

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Tone in Ibibio

Ibibio is a Niger-Kordofanian language spoken in Nigeria.

Although the language has three tones (high, low, and falling) the falling tone only occurs on final syllables, giving the following combinations in two-syllable words.

Note: Tone on First Syllable (examples in the horizontal order: High, Low)
Tone on Second Syllable (examples in the vertical order: High, Falling, Low)


ák͡pá
("expanse of ocean")

emu WebApp 		àk͡pá
("first")

emu WebApp
ák͡pân
("square woven basket")

emu WebApp 		àk͡pɔ̂
("rubber tree")

emu WebApp
ákù
("priest")

emu WebApp 		àk͡pà
("small ant")

emu WebApp

Audio Source:
Sounds of the World's Languages.

References:
Ladefoged, P. (2005): Vowels and consonants: an introduction to the sounds of languages. Malden: Blackwell.