How do tones change the meanings of words in Sinitic languages?

In Sinitic languages, tones function as a critical linguistic feature where variations in pitch and contour are used to distinguish the meanings of words that are otherwise identical in their sequence of consonants and vowels.12

Key aspects of how tones function in these languages include:

• Lexical Distinction: For the most part, tones are lexical, meaning they differentiate one word from another. For example, in Mandarin Chinese, the syllable man can mean either "deceive" or "slow" depending on the pitch used.12
• Grammatical Function: In some Sinitic languages, tones also carry grammatical meaning, helping to define categories or relationships within a sentence.2
• Systemic Nature: These languages employ systems of tones that may include pitch, contour, and occasionally glottal features or stress. While these systems vary, they are often analyzed as having developed from earlier phonological features, such as specific syllabic endings or voicing contrasts in initial consonants.234
• Tone Sandhi: The pronunciation of tones can also be influenced by surrounding syllables, a phenomenon known as sandhi, where the tone of one syllable affects or is affected by the tones of those around it.4