onepitchpersyllable

Onepitchpersyllable refers to a type of tonal system in phonology in which each syllable carries a single discrete pitch value, rather than a pitch contour or glide within the syllable. It is used to describe languages or theoretical models where tonal contrast is expressed solely through level tones on syllables.

In a onepitchpersyllable system, tones are level and attach to whole syllables. The set of possible tones may be high, mid, and low, or a similar register inventory. There is no within-syllable movement, and tone distinctions arise across syllables and words rather than inside a syllable.

This concept is often treated as a descriptive shorthand or idealization. It contrasts with contour-tone systems, where a syllable shows rising or falling pitch, and with some pitch-accent systems where a primary pitch contrasts a subset of syllables but may involve variation within phrases.

Example: a hypothetical sequence of three syllables with tones H, L, M yields a word whose pitch on each syllable remains constant, as opposed to a surface contour such as LH or HL within a single syllable.

In practice, onepitchpersyllable is not a standard label in major grammars but serves as a useful simplification in typological discussions and teaching about tonal systems. See also tonal language, level tone, contour tone, register tone, and pitch accent.