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Example Set 2 - Falling Tonal Aspects

This phenomenon is part of the “down drift” in tone to which this language, like most others, is subjected; that is, as the sentence proceeds, the voice (high tones and all) gradually sinks. So every time a low tone syllable occurs, the next high tone syllable is never so high as those preceding.

Example:
Tetulina kintu kye tulaba mu kisenge ♫ (We can't see anything in the room)

The following words are pronounced with a level tone pattern i.e. ray me, in tonic solfa:
The Falling tone: a falling tone of just over a major third; actually it is equivalent to a high tone plus a low tone. Some examples:
ta ♫ (let go!) me-te, kiita ♫ ray me-te, okuta ♫ ray ray me-te
kibebenu ♫ (cartilege) ray me me me-te, ekibebenu ♫ ray ray me me me-te

Note the falling tone in this sentence:
Tetuzze kulya bulo ♫ (We have not come to eat millet)

In long syllables the distance of the fall is the same. In fact, from the point of view of tone study, any long syllable behaves like two short syllables. Some examples:

okutunga ♫ (to sew) ray me-te doh, kutunga ♫ ray ray me-te doh
omukyala ♫ (lady) ray me-te doh, mukyala ♫ (lady) ray ray me-te doh

When double vowels or double consonants are used, there is no need for the circumflex mark, as the low tone mark can be used on the letter concerned:
okutuuka ♫(to arrive) ray ray me-te doh, ekijiiko ♫(spoon)
okutonnya ♫ (to fall—of rain)ray ray me te doh, omusajja ♫ (man) ray ray me te doh.

Note what can be regarded as “psychological low tone” on voiceless consonants, as in okucoppa ♫ (to be destitute) ray ray me (te) doh omukka ♫ (smoke) ray me (te) doh .

The fact that the final syllable has a lowered high tone shows that the syllabic consonant belongs to the low tone category though no voice is heard.

Compare words like:
omutto ♫ ray me (me) te (pillow) where the final syllable has actual low tone, and the first -t- “psychological high tone”.

In reading examples in the text, it should be noted that tones may be assimilated as well as vowels. Thus: omuntu ono (this person) must be read: omuntwono ♫ (high tone + low tone = falling tone and long vowel).