The tonal structure of Kele (Lokele)

Abstract

Summary: 1. Kele is a typical Bantu language with two tonemes, one high and the other low. Mid‐level tones occur, but in all cases they are non‐significant and can be shown to belong to one of the two tonemes. 2. The value of the drum language and the related whistling and horn languages in the tonal analysis of a Central African language is emphasised. The use of tribal song melodies is also pointed out. 3. In Kele gliding and lengthened tones are essentially composite and are so written in this article. 4. Examples of emotional, semantic and grammatical tones are given. The importance of positional tone is stressed. Theoretical possibilities of semantic differentiation in a bi‐tonemal language are compared with the actual differentiation observed in Kele. 5. Tone patterns for various grammatical forms and elements are given, and a comparison is made between Kele and some other Congo languages especially in connection with tone patterns which seem “ anomalous.” The importance of the principle of interrelation of tones in the tonal pattern of the spoken language is brought out by numerous examples.