Length-based Cantonese Romanisation

[ParkeNYU]

I've been thinking that the following tone marks might be more aesthetically pleasing whilst remaining intuitive (for English speakers):

 

gôu¹ héi² bōon³ càm⁴ yõeŋ⁵ hăa⁶

 

- Tone 3 rests at the center of one's vocal range; it's 'flat and straight'.

- Tone 6 follows gravity and sinks a step down from there whilst remaining level; it 'hangs low'.

- Tone 1 goes against gravity and spikes up from the middle level; it is usually high-level but can be high-falling with open and nasal codas.

- Tone 2 ascends from the middle level and ends at the high level; it 'touches the top'.

- Tone 4 descends from the low level into 'negative infinity' (voice creak); it 'touches the bottom'.

- Tone 5 ascends from the low level and ends at the middle level; it 'rises slightly'.

 

**The breve ( ˘ ) is favoured over the caron ( ˇ ) to avoid confusion with a falling-rising contour and to increase visual distinction from the circumflex ( ˆ ).