Tonal Minimal Pairs in Xitsonga: A Study of Nouns and Verbs
Respect Mlambo 
Issue: Vol.6 No.12 Article 1 pp. 2889 – 2900
DOI: https://doi.org/10.38159/ehass.20256121 | Published online 11th November, 2025
© 2025 The Author(s). This is an open access article under the CCBY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
This study examined the role of tone in Xitsonga minimal pairs, focusing on nouns and verbs. Using a descriptive qualitative approach, it applied a desktop research method to analyse data from secondary sources such as published literature, dictionaries, grammar books and language texts. Data were purposively sampled and analysed by thematic analysis within the framework of Saussurean structural linguistics. The study identified four key patterns of tonal minimal pairs in Xitsonga. Tonal variation within nouns distinguishes meanings in words with identical segmental structures. In verbs, the tone differentiates forms and alters semantic interpretation. Pitch variation also functions as a marker between lexical categories, distinguishing nouns from verbs. Additionally, tonal minimal pairs appear in other categories, including ideophones, adverbs, and pronouns. These findings highlight the crucial role of tone in Xitsonga’s linguistic system, reinforcing its significance in lexical classification and meaning differentiation. They also enhance the knowledge of Xitsonga’s phonological system, offering insights into how tonal features can create contrasts within the language and inform future phonological and linguistic studies.
Keywords: Xitsonga, Minimal Pairs, Tone, Phonological, Nouns, Verbs, Saussurean Structural Linguistics
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Dr. Respect Mlambo holds a PhD in African Linguistics from the University of Venda and currently serves as a Senior Lecturer at the South African Centre for Digital Language Resources (SADiLaR), an initiative of the Department of Science and Innovation (DSI) hosted by North-West University. His research expertise lies in the intersection of African language preservation, general linguistics and digital humanities, with a particular focus on the creation, development, and sustainability of digital language resources. Dr. Mlambo has contributed extensively to the field, publishing numerous peer-reviewed articles in journals accredited by the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) in South Africa, thereby advancing scholarship on African languages in the digital era. His work not only supports linguistic documentation and resource development but also strengthens access, visibility, and technological integration of African languages in contemporary academic and societal contexts.
Mlambo, Respect.“Tonal Minimal Pairs in Xitsonga: A Study of Nouns and Verbs.” E-Journal of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences 6, no. 12 (2025): 2889 – 2900, https://doi.org/10.38159/ehass.20256121.
© 2025 The Author(s). Published and Maintained by Noyam Journals. This is an open access article under the CCBY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
