N'Ko Accents and Tone Marks
N'Ko Tone Marks and Accents
About N'Ko Tone Marks
N'Ko uses various accent marks and tone indicators to show pronunciation, stress, and vowel length. These marks are essential for proper pronunciation and understanding of the language. Like many West African languages, N'Ko is a tonal language where the pitch of your voice can change the meaning of words.
N'Ko Accent and Tone Marks
| Mark | With Vowel | N'Ko Name | Example | English Name | Function |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ◌ | ߊ | Base Vowel | a | Unaccented Vowel | Normal tone |
| ◌̈ | ߊ̈ | Dieresis | ä | Dieresis | High tone |
| ◌̇ | ߊ̇ | Dot Above | ȧ | Dot Above | Doubled vowels (long) |
| ◌̣ | ߊ̣ | Dot Below | ạ | Dot Below | Vowel + N sound |
| ◌̃ | ߊ̃ | Tilde | ã | Tilde | Low tone |
| ◌̂ | ߊ̂ | Circumflex | â | Circumflex | High stressed |
| ◌̧ | ߊ̧ | Left Cedilla | ą | Left Pointing Cedilla | High stressed + high tone |
| ◌̦ | ߊ̦ | Right Cedilla | ą̦ | Right Pointing Cedilla | Low stressed |
| ◌̰ | ߊ̰ | Special Mark | ḁ | Tilde Below | Stressed low tone |
Tone Examples in Context
High Tone Examples
- ߊ̈ - High tone 'a'
- ߋ̈ - High tone 'e'
- ߌ̈ - High tone 'i'
Low Tone Examples
- ߊ̃ - Low tone 'a'
- ߋ̃ - Low tone 'e'
- ߌ̃ - Low tone 'i'
Long Vowels
- ߊ̇ - Long 'aa'
- ߋ̇ - Long 'ee'
- ߌ̇ - Long 'ii'
Nasal Vowels
- ߊ̣ - 'an' sound
- ߋ̣ - 'en' sound
- ߌ̣ - 'in' sound
Important for Learners
Tone marks are crucial in N'Ko as they can completely change the meaning of words. While learning, pay special attention to these marks as they guide proper pronunciation. In spoken Manden languages, tone distinguishes between words that would otherwise sound identical.