The tonal system

The tonal system in languages refers to how pitch or tone is used to distinguish meaning between words. Unlike English, which primarily relies on word order and context, tonal languages vary pitch patterns to differentiate words that may otherwise sound similar. For example, in Mandarin Chinese, the word “ma” can mean “mother,” “horse,” or “scold” depending on the tone used. These tones are integral to pronunciation and understanding, making pitch a crucial component of communication in these languages rather than just an accent or melody.