Reflections on Some Criticisms of the “Circulation Theory of Tone Value Changes”

Abstract

The author has offered a theory that the basic flow of diachronic tonal value changes would make a circulation starting from a high level tone, then passing through a falling, a low level etc., a rising etc., recurring to a high level tone. Against this theory, some scholars have expressed opinions. The author states that these criticisms ignored the significance of assumptions in theoretical researches, or confounded synchronic alternations with diachronic changes, or mistook the theory for universal which will explain all the tone value changes. He notes this theory is not applicable to abrupt changes caused by extrinsic factors.