Lingthusiasm
108: Highs and lows of tone in Babanki - Interview with Pius Akumbu
September 19, 202551 min · 7,301 words
Show notes
Linguistic research has its highs and lows: from staging a traditional wedding to learn about ceremonial words to having your efforts to found a village school disrupted by civil war. Linguistic research can also be about highs and lows: in this case, looking at how high and low tones in Babanki words affect their meaning. In this episode, your host Lauren Gawne gets enthusiastic about the highs and lows of fieldwork in Babanki with Dr.
Highlighted moments
if I say fengi, fengi, efuom, this is my knife. And if I say kekang, efuom, this is my dish. oh they're not the same
“I waited throughout a full year. I was looking out to a traditional wedding in the community and I never got information about any, but people remember these things.”
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