Three tones
High, mid and low: hear how tone changes a word's meaning, and read the tone marks.
Planned. This module is part of the plan and is not written yet.
Why it matters
In Yoruba, the pitch of your voice can change a word's meaning completely, so hearing and reading tones is part of speaking and spelling well.
Draft outline · in review- For
- Level 2–5 · Primary 2 to Primary 5
- Inside
- 5 lessons and a test · about 60 minutes
- Topic
- Foundations · core, 2 of 4
Inside the module.
5 lessons in order, about 60 minutes in all, then a short test. Learners go at their own pace; the minutes are a guide, not a timetable.
Draft outline · in review
Lesson 1: Voices go up and down
Hear high, mid and low tones by humming and clapping along.
Explain10 min, from minute 0
Lesson 2: Marks on vowels
An acute accent (´) marks high, a grave accent (`) marks low, and mid usually has no mark.
Explain15 min, from minute 10
Lesson 3: Same letters, different words
Hear how ọkọ, ọkọ́ and ọkọ̀ (husband, hoe, vehicle) differ only in tone.
Worked example15 min, from minute 25
Lesson 4: Listening and reading
Match spoken words to written words with the right tone marks.
Practice15 min, from minute 40
Lesson 5: Review
Mixed questions, with feedback on each.
Review5 min, from minute 55
End-of-module test
Hear and say the three tones, read tone marks, and tell apart words that differ only in tone.
Mastered at 85% or more. Retake it until you pass; nothing is lost, and each try gives feedback.
Already know it? A Challenge Test (planned) clears the whole module: 90% overall, no objective below 75%.
Last stageafter about 60 min
Practicalities
Draft outline · in reviewBuilt to run offline
Planned to run on the Lantern's own computer, with no internet needed.
Languages
Planned first in Yoruba and English; every module aims to reach all of the Lantern's languages.
Try a question.
One question from the module, as a learner would meet it. Have a go, then open the worked solution a step at a time.
Draft outline · in review
In the word ọkọ̀, the last vowel has a mark above it. What tone does that vowel have?
Particulars
Where it sits
What a learner can do after it
- Hear and say the high, mid and low tones.
- Read the tone marks: an acute accent for high, a grave accent for low, and usually no mark for mid.
- Tell apart words that differ only in tone.
Needs first
Level
Level 2–5 · Primary 2 to Primary 5
Level mappings are approximate. A qualified teacher or lecturer in each country must check them before they appear in the app.
Difficulty for its level
2 of 4 · Core
Time
About 60 minutes
Alignments
- Aligned to NERDCpartial · in reviewNERDC Yoruba Language, primary: tones (descriptive ref)
Alignment in review until a qualified teacher or lecturer checks it. No exam body, university or vendor endorses us; learners still sit the real exam.
Challenge Test
Planned: a Challenge Test to prove you know it and skip it. Pass at 90% overall, with no objective below 75%.
University courses it previews
Yoruba, Linguistics and African Languages
The route here.
Everything this module builds on, drawn as a route from its foundations. Solid lanes must be mastered first, or cleared by a Challenge Test; dashed lanes are suggestions that never lock anything.
- LA-YOR-FND-01The Yoruba alphabetLanguages · Primary 1 to Primary 4 (Level 1–4) · Planned
- LA-YOR-FND-02Vowels, oral and nasalLanguages · Primary 1 to Primary 4 (Level 1–4) · Planned Needs The Yoruba alphabet (required).
- LA-YOR-FND-03Three tonesLanguages · Primary 2 to Primary 5 (Level 2–5) · Planned · the destination Needs Vowels, oral and nasal (required).
Help light the room where this is learned.
Every route on this map starts in a classroom with 24 stations, a tutor that works offline and a facilitator upstairs. Four are planned and waiting for light.