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How does tone change the meaning of words in the Obokuitai language?
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Papuan languages
Map of the languages found on the Doberai Peninsula of New Guinea.
In the Obokuitai language, which belongs to the Lakes Plain family, tone is used to distinguish word meanings through variations in pitch. Examples of this include:1
- ti: A high pitch means "string bag," while a falling pitch refers to a type of butterfly.1
- di: A high pitch means "red," whereas a low pitch means "you".1
- ku: This form utilizes three distinct pitches: a high pitch means "cassowary," a low pitch means "wood," and a falling pitch refers to a kind of soil.1