Re: [tied] Tonal IE languages

>My language Norwegian is often referred to as a "singing" or tonal
>language. Are Norwegian and Swedish the only IE tonal languages? When
>I hear old recordings of Norwegian language (f.ex. 50-70 years old),
>I have a feeling that they speak slightly less "tonally" than
>Norwegians today. I'm afraid to give examples since I'm not a
>linguist, but I'll try anyway:
>The word "så" has two meanings:
>- saw (of "to see")
>- then, thereafter
>These had identical pronounciation earlier, but now the first would
>be pronounced with a falling tone, while the latter with a neutral or
>climbing tone.
>Is the Norwegian language evolving rapidly in a "tonal direction", or
>is it my imagination playing with me?

The Dutch dialect spoken in Belgian & Dutch Limburg is also considered to be
a "singing" language. The dialect is very musical and it can discern words
by tone (sleeptoon & stoottoon it's called I believe), eg, Dutch "wijs" can
mean "wise" and "indicate", it's pronounced in the same way in standard
Dutch & most dialects (I believe both words have the same etymology?), but
differently in Limburgian. I have no idea how old these Limburgian tones
are.

Marc Verhaegen
http://www.onelist.com/community/AAT
http://www.infres.enst.fr/confs/evolang/actes/_actes74.html