Definitions for downstep
down·step

WiktionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. downstepnoun

   An downward shift of tone between the syllables or words of a tonal language.

WikipediaRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Downstep

   Downstep is a phenomenon in tone languages in which if two syllables have the same tone (for example, both with a high tone or both with a low tone), the second syllable is lower in pitch than the first. Two main kinds of downstep can be distinguished. The first, more usually called automatic downstep, downdrift or catathesis, occurs when high and low tones come in the sequence H L (L) H; the second high tone tends to be lower than the first because of the intervening low toned syllable. That phenomenon is common in African languages, such as Chichewa. It has also been argued that the same phenomenon is heard in English sentences, if these sentences are pronounced with a falling intonation, for example I really believe Ebenezer was a dealer in magnesium, or I bought blueberries, bayberries, raspberries, mulberries, and brambleberries.Downstep proper, or non-automatic downstep, is another phenomenon found in many African languages such as Igbo. for an overview of downstep in African languages.) If two high tones are in succeeding syllables (thus in the sequence H H), and the second is lower than the first, there is said to be a downstep.The symbol for the second kind of downstep in the International Phonetic Alphabet is a superscript down arrow, ⟨ꜜ⟩ (↓). It is common to see instead a superscript exclamation mark ⟨ꜝ⟩ (!) because of typographic constraints, though technically that would mean an incompletely or lightly articulated alveolar click release.

WikidataRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Downstep

   In phonetics, downstep is a phonemic or phonetic downward shift of tone between the syllables or words of a tonal language. It is best known in the tonal languages of West Africa, but the pitch accent of Japanese is quite similar to downstep in Africa. Downstep contrasts with the much rarer upstep. The symbol for downstep in the International Phonetic Alphabet is a superscript down arrow. It is common to see a superscript exclamation mark, used instead due to typographic constraints. Phonetic downstep may occur between sequences of the same phonemic tone. For example, when two mid tones occur together in Twi, the second is at a lower pitch than the first. Thus downstep plays a vital role in downdrift and tone terracing. Phonemic downstep may occur when a low tone is elided, or occurs as a floating tone, and leaves a following tone at a lower level than it would otherwise be. An example occurs in Bambara. In this language, the definite article is a floating low tone. With a noun in isolation, it docks to the preceding vowel, turning a high tone into a falling tone: However, when it occurs between two high tones, it downsteps the following tone:

Anagrams for downstep »

1. step down

2. step-down

How to pronounce downstep?

1. Alex

   US English

   David

   US English

   Mark

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

   Priya

   Indian

   Neerja

   Indian

   Zira

   US English

   Oliver

   British

   Wendy

   British

   Fred

   US English

   Tessa

   South African

How to say downstep in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of downstep in Chaldean Numerology is: 6

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of downstep in Pythagorean Numerology is: 8

References

1. ^ Wiktionary
   https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Downstep
2. ^ Wikipedia
   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Downstep
3. ^ Wikidata
   https://www.wikidata.org/w/index.php?search=downstep