Definition & Meaning of "tone sandhi"

What is "tone sandhi"?

Tone sandhi is a phonological phenomenon that occurs in tonal languages where the tone of a syllable changes based on its context, particularly in relation to adjacent tones. This process helps maintain the overall melody of speech and can affect meaning since tones are crucial in distinguishing words. For example, in Mandarin Chinese, when two third tones occur in sequence, the first one often changes to a second tone, resulting in a smoother flow of speech. Tone sandhi is significant in linguistics because it illustrates how tones interact within language and how these interactions can impact pronunciation and comprehension, contributing to the rhythmic patterns of speech.