and if so: is english becoming a tone language just like chinese...
2006-09-25 11:30:51 · 17 answers · asked by ixat02 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Languages
It's not tone that you are hearing. What you are hearing is a lengthened vowel before a voiced consonant in bed and bad. The vowel qualities are identical and the "tones" (actually pitch in English) are identical, but the lengthening on the vowel gives a slight perceptual difference between them.
2006-09-25 17:02:27 · answer #1 · answered by Taivo 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
1
2016-12-24 23:44:40 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I realize that some dialects and some languages don't distinguish among certain sounds. For example, if I'm correct, Midwesterners can't distiguish the sounds among Mary, marry, and merry, but I'm a New Yorker, and I do hear the differences. The first vowels are different.
Between bet and bed, and bat and bad, the consonants are different. The consonants T and D are the same sound, except that D is vocal and T is not. Also, the short E and the short A are different vowel sounds. If you don't understand this, talk to a linguist, or at least to a phonics teacher.
2006-09-25 11:39:42 · answer #3 · answered by MNL_1221 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I do hear the difference. I don't know why you think it has anything to do with tone, because it doesn't . The difference is the final consonant and the vowel.
Now let me give you a disclaimer: The ability to hear the difference may be dialectal::different regions of the country may or may not be able to hear the difference.
Tonality of a language is where a variable of ascension or declension in a particular vowel sound modifies the meaning entirely. The difference in the vowels and in the consonants guarantees that this is not a tone language.
2006-09-25 12:52:14 · answer #4 · answered by loboconqueso 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Yes, but I can't hear the difference between Mary, merry and marry.
I'm not sure what you mean by a tone language though. I know nothing about Chinese either.
2006-09-25 11:37:45 · answer #5 · answered by Laura R 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
i am a daughter i don't think there is any difference many people say that Mother's Love is heavenly but they don't have much words to describe Father's Love Yes our mothers take very gud care of our needs,our desires its the same with our Fathers They are our protectors from every view..(Yes mothers too are our protectors) but here i m talking abt fathers Don't know how but his presence strengthens my concentration while doing a work there is feel of comfort and security and this excerpt is very nice Banjaran ji.
2016-03-18 01:20:01 · answer #6 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I hear them all as seperate words, and speak them as so as well; however, a lot of people don't. Most people say 'You'd better(bedder) do that." But I have never heard someone say, "I'm going to bed(bet) now." I guess it's all how you pronounce everything.
2006-09-25 11:34:51 · answer #7 · answered by misteri 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Bet Bed
2017-03-02 17:08:07 · answer #8 · answered by harn 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I hear a difference.
2006-09-25 18:41:46 · answer #9 · answered by Sunshine 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Yes I do... It's really all about how well you pronounce the consonants at the end
2006-09-25 11:38:57 · answer #10 · answered by ? 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋