Syntax and Tone in African languages

在非洲，人们使用多种声调语言。与亚洲声调语言相比，非洲声调语言的特点是词汇功能较低，语法功能较高。因此，例如，许多班图语仅通过语调来区分时态/体，而关系从句有时仅通过语调来表达。加纳的阿肯仅通过声调表达所有格结构。这些声调的词汇功能应该被认为是非洲声调语言的重要特征。

In Africa a number of tone languages are spoken. The characteristics of African tone languages are that lexical function is low but grammatical function is high in comparison to Asian tone languages. Thus, for example, many Bantu languages distinguish tenses/aspects by tone alone, and relative clauses are sometimes rendered by tone alone. Akan of Ghana expresses genitive constructions by tone alone. These lexical functions of tone should be recognized as important characteristics of African tone languages.