The Vietnamese language has six tones, which are pitch contours that differentiate word meanings. These tones are typically denoted using diacritical marks or numbers attached to the vowels.
The Vietnamese language is tonal, which means that the pitch or tone in which a word is pronounced can change its meaning. In Vietnamese, there are six tones, each of which is represented by diacritical marks or numbers attached to the vowels. Let’s delve into the details of these tones and explore some interesting facts about them.
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High Level Tone: This tone is marked as a straight line (¯) above the vowel. It is pronounced with a high and flat pitch. For example, the word “ma” with a high level tone means “ghost,” while without a tone mark, it means “mother.”
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Low Falling Tone: Represented by a falling accent (˨˩) attached to the vowel. This tone starts high and then falls dramatically. For instance, the word “má” pronounced with a low falling tone means “cheek,” while without a tone mark, it means “rice seedling.”
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Low Rising Tone: Indicated by a rising accent (˩˧) above the vowel. This tone starts low and then rises. An example of this tone is the word “mà” which means “but.” Without any tone mark, it becomes a question particle.
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High Rising Tone: This tone is marked by a question mark-like accent (˧˥). It starts mid-low and then rises sharply. For example, the word “má” pronounced with a high rising tone means “tombstone,” while without a tone mark, it means “viper.”
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Mid-Level Tone: Denoted by a tilde-like diacritic (˧) above the vowel. It is a mid-level tone with no significant rising or falling. The word “mã” pronounced with this tone means “code,” while without any tone mark, it means “horse.”
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Glottalized or Stopped Tone: Indicated by a comma-like accent (ˀ) above the vowel. It is pronounced with a creaky voice or glottal stop. For instance, the word “mặ̃t” with this tone means “face,” while without any tone mark, it means “cotton.”
A famous quote from Graham Greene showcases the importance of tones in Vietnamese. He said, “The Vietnamese language has its own music, its own poetry, and it communicates emotions by its tones.” This highlights how tones play a crucial role in expressing nuances and emotions in the language.
Interesting facts about Vietnamese tones:
- Tones can completely change the meaning of a word in Vietnamese, leading to a high level of precision required in pronunciation.
- Vietnamese is a tonal language similar to Thai, Chinese, and other languages in the region.
- Tones are inherited from Proto-Viet-Muong language and have evolved over time.
- Children learning Vietnamese as their first language naturally acquire tone distinctions at an early age.
- Vietnamese poetry often relies on the melody of tones to create rhythm and beauty in the verses.
Below is a table summarizing the Vietnamese tones and their corresponding diacritical marks:
| Tone Name | Diacritical Mark | Example Word |
|---|---|---|
| High Level Tone | ¯ | ma |
| Low Falling Tone | ˨˩ | má |
| Low Rising Tone | ˩˧ | mà |
| High Rising Tone | ˧˥ | má |
| Mid-Level Tone | ˧ | mã |
| Glottalized Tone | ˀ | mặ̃t |
In conclusion, the six tones in Vietnamese, distinguished by their pitch contours, are crucial in differentiating word meanings. Mastering these tones is essential for effective communication and understanding in the Vietnamese language. As Greene aptly stated, the tones in Vietnamese encapsulate its unique music and poetry, adding richness and beauty to the language.
Response via video
In this video, Lana from the Jupiter Teaching Group addresses the difficulty of Vietnamese tones for non-native speakers. She explains that Vietnamese is an atonal language with six different tones, represented by symbols that closely match the sound. Lana teaches the pronunciation of each tone and provides examples. She emphasizes the importance of mastering the tones for accurate Vietnamese communication. Additionally, Lana mentions slight variations in tone pronunciation between the northern and southern dialects. She introduces the “dark tone,” a low and short tone, and encourages viewers to practice pronouncing the tones to improve their skills. Overall, Lana emphasizes that practice is key to mastering the tones in Vietnamese.
Here are some more answers to your question
How many tones are in the Vietnamese language? There are six tones in Vietnamese. They are indicated by five diacritic-markers that are placed above or under vowels: ´, ̀, ̉, ~, . and “no marker”. They can occur on any vowel. For comparison, Mandarin has 4 tones.
What Are The Six Vietnamese Tones?
- 1. Mid-Level Tone (Thanh Ngang) The mid-level tone in Vietnamese is called “thanh ngang”.
- 2. Low Falling Tone (Thanh Huyền) The low falling tone or “thanh huyền” is pronounced when you low down your voice.
Surely you will be interested in this
Why is Vietnamese ă tonal language?
Vietnamese is a tonal language, which means the inflection you put on a word changes its meaning. The tones are shown as symbols over and under the words, and their shapes actually let you know what your voice should be doing. It’s the tones that give the language its music-like quality.
What are the tones of Vietnamese language?
Response: There are six tones in Vietnamese that you need to learn and master when you learn Vietnamese.
- Mid-Level Tone (Thanh Ngang)
- Low Falling Tone (Thanh Huyền)
- High Rising Tone (Thanh Sắc)
- Low Rising Tone (Thanh Hỏi)
- High Broken Tone (Thanh Ngã)
- Heavy Tone (Thanh Nặng)
How important are tones in Vietnamese?
The response is: Although some languages use pitch to express emotion, to emphasise, to compare or contrast ideas, tones in Vietnamese are used to distinguish words. That means the very tone attached to each word can fundamentally change the meaning of that word.
How do you type tones in Vietnamese?
Answer will be: In Windows Keyboard
To add an accent mark over a vowel (â, ă, ê, ô, ơ, ư), type the following: a + w = ă; a + a = â; e + e = ê; o + o = ô; o + w = ơ; u + w = ư. 2. To add diaeresis over a vowel (à, á, ả, ã, ạ) type the following: : a + f = à; a + s = á; a + r = ả; a + x = ã; a + j = ạ.
How many tones does Vietnam have?
As an answer to this: The Vietnamese tones may also differ in use and sound across the different subregions of Vietnam. Northern Vietnamese speakers speak with all six tones. While Southern Vietnamese speakers typically speak with only five, nearly four tones.
What are the five symbols for Vietnamese tones?
The reply will be: The five symbols for the Vietnamese tones are: acute, grave, hook above, tilde, and dot "below", as shown in the table below. With the exception of the "dot below", all other tone marks are placed above the vowel of a word. Tones are listed as in the table below by their names in alphabetical order.
Is Vietnamese a tonal language?
Response to this: Vietnamese is a tonal language. It means that you need to learn how to pronounce Vietnamese tones correctly as the tones play an important role in the meaning of a Vietnamese word or phrase. There are six (6) tones in the Vietnamese language with five (5) tone marks that we will have you covered today:
What is a high rising tone in Vietnamese?
High Rising Tone (Thanh Sắc) Thanh Sắc is the Vietnamese name of the high rising tone in Vietnamese. You need to raise your voice up quickly to create this tone. It sounds similar to “What???” in English. The tone mark for this tone is “/” (dấu sắc) as you can see in the word “sắc”. Many words have this tone mark, as follows: 4.
How many tones does Vietnam have?
The Vietnamese tones may also differ in use and sound across the different subregions of Vietnam. Northern Vietnamese speakers speak with all six tones. While Southern Vietnamese speakers typically speak with only five, nearly four tones.
What are the five symbols for Vietnamese tones?
Answer will be: The five symbols for the Vietnamese tones are: acute, grave, hook above, tilde, and dot "below", as shown in the table below. With the exception of the "dot below", all other tone marks are placed above the vowel of a word. Tones are listed as in the table below by their names in alphabetical order.
Is Vietnamese a tonal language?
Vietnamese is a tonal language. It means that you need to learn how to pronounce Vietnamese tones correctly as the tones play an important role in the meaning of a Vietnamese word or phrase. There are six (6) tones in the Vietnamese language with five (5) tone marks that we will have you covered today:
What is the most difficult tone in Vietnamese?
High Broken Tone (Thanh Ngã) This might be the most difficult tone in Vietnamese which has challenged a lot of Vietnamese learners. The way to pronounce “Thanh Ngã” is to raise your voice as you do when you pronounce “Thanh Sắc” (high rising tone) but at the end of the sound, you suddenly stop it.