Tones
Tone in tonal languages like Chinese or some African languages is marked with accent-like characters written to the right of the corresponding syllable. The tone system employed in Lepsius' 1863 version is as follows (using the yin values of the Chinese tones for reference):
| S.A. | Pinyin | IPA | Name |
|---|---|---|---|
| maˏ | mā, má | ma˥, ma˧˥ | level tone (平聲) |
| ma´ | mǎ | ma˨˩˦ | rising tone (上聲) |
| ma` | mà | ma˥˩ | departing tone (去聲) |
| maˎ | — | — | entering tone (入聲) |
Yang values are written with a small line under the accent mark. Tonal African languages written in this alphabet would use the acute accent to mark high tones, the grave accent to mark low tones and leave the mid tone unmarked.
Read more about this topic: Standard Alphabet By Lepsius
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