Re: Learning a language

From: Richard Herring (junk_at_[127.0.0.1)
Date: 06/24/04 

Date: Thu, 24 Jun 2004 15:13:42 +0100

In message <20040624090115.11526.00000365@mb-m23.aol.com>, Dmitri
<uiesperanto@aol.com> writes
>>From: Richard Herring
>
>>OK, I'll concede: not all five tones on all words. But how about 2 tones or
>>>even 3 or 4?
>>
>>Some words, certainly. Nothing like all of them.
>
>WEll, then why even bother having the damned things

Wrong question. I'm describing the features of an existing language that
makes these distinctions, not trying to design one.

>if they're just "window
>dressing"??

They're not. They are one of several phonological dimensions that can
distinguish syllables. You might as well ask why even bother having a
distinction between aspirated and unaspirated stops, or long and short
vowels, or...

>I mean i4 has how many meanings??

"i4"? In Thai, none.

>.......can a few more added on because of
>dropping the tones make that much of a difference?

It all depends. I can imagine circumstances where confusing a tiger with
a shirt would be unwise. 

-- 
Richard Herring

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