Analyze Tone Languages with Confidence

A participatory phonology tool designed specifically for field linguists working with tone languages and native speakers

Download Now Getting Started Guide

What is Tone Matching Suite?

Tone Matching Suite is a set of applications designed to help field linguists and native speakers work together on tone language analysis. It simplifies the process of grouping words by their tone melodies without requiring technical linguistic training from native speakers.

🎯

Simple for Native Speakers

Uses pictures and sounds instead of technical terminology. Native speakers can classify words naturally by listening and comparing.

📊

Powerful for Researchers

Maintains data integrity of your Dekereke databases while providing tools to compare results across multiple speakers.

📱

Works Anywhere

Use on Android phones for field work or Windows/Mac computers in the office. No internet connection required.

🔄

Integrates with Dekereke

Works directly with your existing Dekereke phonology databases and audio recordings.

Key Features

For Native Speakers

  • ✓ Icon-based interface with minimal text
  • ✓ Draw pictures to represent tone patterns
  • ✓ Listen and compare words naturally
  • ✓ Works offline on Android or Windows
  • ✓ No technical linguistics knowledge required

For Researchers

  • ✓ Preserves original XML structure and encoding
  • ✓ Filter by grammatical category or syllable pattern
  • ✓ Compare results from multiple speakers
  • ✓ Identify disagreements and validate groupings
  • ✓ Compatible with Dekereke XML format

How It Works

Three simple steps from data to analysis:

1

Prepare Your Data

Use the Bundler App to create a data bundle from your Dekereke XML database and audio recordings.

Bundler App Interface showing XML file selection, audio folder selection, and settings panel
2

Classify Tones

Native speakers use the Mobile App or Desktop Matching App to listen to words and group them by tone melody.

Mobile App Tone Matching screen showing word display, tone groups with pictures, and navigation buttons
3

Compare & Analyze

Use the Comparison App to review results from multiple speakers and identify patterns or disagreements.

Comparison App Results showing statistics panel, disagreements table, and merged groups section

Download Tone Matching Suite

Version 1.0.0 - Choose the application and platform you need:

📦 Bundler App

Prepare data bundles from Dekereke databases

Windows macOS

🎯 Desktop Matching App

Classify tones on your computer

Windows macOS

📱 Mobile App

Classify tones on Android phone or tablet

Android APK

📊 Comparison App

Compare results from multiple speakers

Windows macOS

View All Downloads & Installation Instructions

Works with Dekereke

Tone Matching Suite is designed to work seamlessly with Dekereke, the phonology database software used by many field linguists.

What is Dekereke?

Dekereke is a database application for managing phonological data in language documentation projects. It helps linguists organize lexical data, track phonological patterns, and manage audio recordings.

How They Work Together

  • Export from Dekereke: Export your phonology database as XML with associated audio recordings
  • Create Bundle: Use Tone Matching Bundler to package the data for analysis
  • Analyze Tones: Native speakers classify words by tone using the mobile or desktop app
  • Import Results: Tone group assignments can be reviewed and integrated back into your Dekereke database

Note: You don't need to be a Dekereke expert to use Tone Matching Suite. The Bundler App handles the technical details of XML processing for you.

Who Uses Tone Matching Suite?

Field Linguists

Working on tone language documentation and analysis, especially orthography development and phonological description.

Language Projects

SIL teams and other organizations developing writing systems for tone languages, where determining which tones to mark is crucial.

Native Speakers

Contributing their linguistic intuition without needing to understand technical phonological analysis.

Phonology Students

Learning about tone systems through hands-on participatory research with native speaker consultants.

Support & Resources

📚 Documentation

💻 Technical