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| African Languages At PENN |
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| Semi-vowels |
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There are three semi-vowels in the Shona language: w, y, v.
The semi-vowels w and y are pronounced very lightly, as in: |
| uya |
come |
| yanwa |
breast feed |
| wana |
get, marry |
| vana |
children |
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| The Shona language has two basic tones, :high” and “low” (high pitch vs. low pitch), and these provide a contrast in meaning. Foe example, guru means either “huge” (high tone) or “third stomach of ruminant” (low tone). Not every syllable is pronounced in a high or low tone. |
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