Tone Contrast in Language: The Igbo and Tee Examples

Abstract

This is a contrastive analysis of the tone system of Owere-Igbo and Tee. It sets out to show that certain rules in language such as tone rules, syllable structure rules, etc., which operate in Igbo and Tee are Universal (properties) principles, which differ in the dynamics of their operations in languages. To achieve the aims and objectives of the study, the researchers used their intuition as speakers of Owere-Igbo and employed direct oral interviews of Tee speakers as a method of data collection. The study was descriptively analysed and the following are its findings: the two languages are register tone languages. While Owere-Igbo has two tone levels-low [ ̀] high [ ̣́] tones and a down step [!]; Tee exhibits three tone levels-low [ ̀], high [ ̣́]and a mid-tone [-]. This is in line with the tenets of UG in that both languages share the universal properties of having a tone system; however, based on parameters, the dynamics of observable differences in the way the system operates distinguish them.