Dictionary

upstep en · NOUN

Etymology

Etymology tree English up- Proto-Germanic *stapjaną Proto-West Germanic *stappjan Old English stæppan Middle English steppen English step English upstep From up- + step.

Meanings

1. An upward shift of tone between the syllables or words of a tonal language.
   • Such an upstep appears in only a few constructions, and it is conceivable on the basis of the limited evidence cited that it should be attributed to an intonational pattern having a status different from that of downstep, which occurs more commonly in the language. […] After an upstep, following highs continue on the same level until a low or downstep; the upstep simply shifts the entire sequence of terraces back up one level. 1974, William E. Welmers, African Language Structures, Berkeley, Los Angeles: University of California Press, →ISBN, page 90:

Forms

upstep en · VERB

Etymology

Etymology tree English up- Proto-Germanic *stapjaną Proto-West Germanic *stappjan Old English stæppan Middle English steppen English step English upstep From up- + step.

Meanings

1. To apply an upward shift of tone between the syllables or words of a tonal language.
   • Thomas (1974:25) considers, but rejects, an analysis very similar to the present proposal […] on the grounds that an analysis that simply upsteps a high-toned TBU before a low tone (one component) is simpler than one that requires the three components just stated. 1999, Keith Snider, “Tonal 'Upstep' in Engenni”, in Journal of West African Languages, volume 27, number 1, page 14:

Forms

Relateds

downstep