Abstract : The Naxi language (Tibeto-Burman family) features a "floating tone" which calls to mind sub-Saharan tone systems. It results from the deletion of certain morphemes, and combines with a preceding Low or Mid tone to surface as a Rising tone. This Rising tone, which has no Falling counterpart, is also a component of Naxi intonation, used for emphasis. Lastly, the Naxi Rising tone has also come to serve a lexical function. This arguably paved the way for its use on Chinese loanwords with Rising lexical tone. The Naxi Rising tone is thus of interest to tonal typology, as well as to comparison within the Tibeto-Burman family.
