Tone Chart
<<Based on Vientiane Tones>>

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Chart Showing the Relationship Between Syllable Types (Live vs. Dead), Written Tone Marks (ek.gif (262 bytes),to.gif (284 bytes)) and The Five Tones of Vientiane Speech (Low Rising/Falling; High Rising/Falling; High Mid)

 

 Smooth/Live Syllables* Checked/Dead Syllables**
Written Tone Marks Inherent Tone Tone 1/ ek.gif (262 bytes) Tone 2/ to.gif (284 bytes)  Long Vowel Short Vowel
Syllable-Initial Consonant Class
High Classs
ຂ ສ ຖ ຜ ຝ ຫ                        
LOW RISING   4

HIGH MID    #

LOW FALLING   3 LOW    FALLING   3 HIGH RISING   2
Middle Class
ກ ຈ ດ ຕ ບ ປ ຢ ອ
LOW RISING   4 HIGH MID    # HIGH FALLING    1 LOW   FALLING    3 HIGH RISING   2
Low Class
ຄ ຊ ທ ພ ຟ ຮ ງ  ຍ ນ ມ ຣ ລ ວ
HIGH RISING   2 HIGH MID    # HIGH FALLING     1 HIGH FALLING   1 HIGH MID    #
 

*Smooth/Live syllables end in a long vowel or -m,-n,  -N, -r, -l, , -w, -i, -y.

**Checked/Dead syllables end in a final -p, -t, -k, or -? (glottal) sound.
 

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2002 SEAsite Laos.  Tone Chart Based on Vientiane Tones