Universal #1675

Legacy number: 1675

 Number  1670
 Original  In contiguous syllables, a contour tone may be more likely to appear if one of the two tones is low.
 Standardized  IF one of the two tones in contiguous syllables is low, THEN a contour tone is more likely to appear than otherwise.
 Keywords  tone, contour tone
 Domain  prosodic phonology
 Type  implication
 Status  achronic
 Quality  absolute
 Basis  West African languages: Bolanci, Ga?anda, Hausa, Kanakuru (=Dera), Ngizim (all Chadic); Etsako (Edoid); Ewe, Twi (both Kwa); Gwari, Igbirra, Nupe (all Nupoid); Igbo (Igboid); Yoruba (Defoid); Fe?fe?, Kikuyu, Kinga, Mbui, Safwa, Sukuma, Tigong, Xhosa, Zulu (all Bantu); Kpelle, Mende (both Mande).
 Source  Hyman & Schuh 1972: 14 [Hyman & Schuh 1974: 89]

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Discussion
Notes
1. Thus, M-L develops into M-F, but H-M does not develop into a falling tone. 2. The contour tone always appears on the second syllable, due to the fact that tone spreading is a progressive or perserverative phenomenon rather than a regressive or anticipatory one.
Comment
Frans Plank · 3 Aug 2006
1. Thus, M-L develops into M-F, but H-M does not develop into a falling tone.

2. The contour tone always appears on the second syllable, due to the fact that tone spreading is a progressive or perserverative phenomenon rather than a regressive or anticipatory one.