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A Beginner's Guide to Taiwanese: Difference between revisions
A Beginner's Guide to Taiwanese (view source)
Revision as of 01:58, 31 October 2018
, 01:58, 31 October 2018→Tones: uncap labels, add numbers
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=== Tones === | === Tones === | ||
Taiwanese is a tonal language which means that pitch is used to convey meaning. Many words are differentiated solely by | Taiwanese is a tonal language which means that pitch is used to convey meaning. Many words are differentiated solely by tone. Learning to speak and hear the [[tones of Taiwanese]] correctly is often difficult for an English speaker. With practice you will be able to hear and speak them. Again most speakers of Taiwanese are not aware of the different tones but they can all understand you when you pronounce them correctly. | ||
[[File:Tones1235784.mp3|thumb|none|''af'', ''ar'', ''ax'', ''aa'', ''a'', ''ah'', ''aq'']] | [[File:Tones1235784.mp3|thumb|none|''af'', ''ar'', ''ax'', ''aa'', ''a'', ''ah'', ''aq'']] | ||
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! # !! Tones !! Description !! MTL !! Example | ! # !! Tones !! Description !! MTL !! Example | ||
|- | |- | ||
| 1 || | | 1 || high || level (55 or 44) || [[f]] (silent) || {{x|khaf}} (''leg''; ''foot'') | ||
|- | |- | ||
| 2 || | | 2 || shouting || sharply downward (51) || [[r]] (silent)|| {{x|ar}} (仔) | ||
|- | |- | ||
| 3 || | | 3 || low falling || somewhat downward (31) || [[x]] (silent)|| {{x|pax}} (''leopard'') | ||
|- | |- | ||
| 5 || | | 5 || curving || mid, downward, then upward (24) || doubling of vowel || {{x|gaau}} (''extraordinary'') | ||
|- | |- | ||
| 7 || | | 7 || basic || mid-level (33) || default || {{x|toa}} | ||
|- | |- | ||
| 8 || | | 8 || short high || (5ʔ) || ends with ''h'', ''p'', ''t'' or ''k'' || {{x|ah}} (''a box'') | ||
|- | |- | ||
| 4 || | | 4 || short low || (3ʔ) || ends with ''q'', ''b'', ''d'' or ''g'' || {{x|aq}} (''a duck'') | ||
|} | |} | ||
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! Pitch !! -h !! -p !! -t !! -k | ! Pitch !! -h !! -p !! -t !! -k | ||
|- | |- | ||
| high || {{xl|ciah}} (''to eat'') || {{xl|ap}} (''a box'') || {{xl|lat}} (''strength'') || {{xl|bak}} (''ink'') | | 8. high || {{xl|ciah}} (''to eat'') || {{xl|ap}} (''a box'') || {{xl|lat}} (''strength'') || {{xl|bak}} (''ink'') | ||
|- | |- | ||
| low || {{xl|phaq}} (''to hit'') || {{xl|ciab}} (''juice'') || {{xl|kad}} (''knot'') || {{xl|kag}} (''horn'') | | 4. low || {{xl|phaq}} (''to hit'') || {{xl|ciab}} (''juice'') || {{xl|kad}} (''knot'') || {{xl|kag}} (''horn'') | ||
|} | |} | ||
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{| class="wikitable" | {| class="wikitable" | ||
! | ! Vowel<sup>#</sup> !! Base <br>spelling !! Special vowel<br> or shortcut !! Example || Meaning | ||
|- | |- | ||
| ai || air || ae || {{xl|hae}} || sea | | ai<sup>2</sup> || air || ae || {{xl|hae}} || sea | ||
|- | |- | ||
| i || ir || {{x|ie}} || {{xl|lie}} || you | | i<sup>2</sup> || ir || {{x|ie}} || {{xl|lie}} || you | ||
|- | |- | ||
| u || ur || {{x|uo}} || {{xl|kuo}} || (''of time'') long | | u<sup>2</sup> || ur || {{x|uo}} || {{xl|kuo}} || (''of time'') long | ||
|- | |- | ||
| e || er || {{x|ea}} || {{xl|bea}} || horse | | e<sup>2</sup> || er || {{x|ea}} || {{xl|bea}} || horse | ||
|- | |- | ||
| au || aur || {{x|ao}} || {{xl|kao}} || dog | | au<sup>2</sup> || aur || {{x|ao}} || {{xl|kao}} || dog | ||
|- | |- | ||
| i || if || {{x|y}} || {{xl|y}} || he / she / it | | i<sup>1</sup> || if || {{x|y}} || {{xl|y}} || he / she / it | ||
|- | |- | ||
| u || uf || w || {{xl|wtiu}} || universe | | u<sup>1</sup> || uf || w || {{xl|wtiu}} || universe | ||
|- | |- | ||
| ø || øø || {{x|øo}} || {{xl|kiøo}} || bridge | | ø<sup>5</sup> || øø || {{x|øo}} || {{xl|kiøo}} || bridge | ||
|} | |} | ||