in loop) e.g. likuul (a hoe/a tape/CD/DVD) w (as in wish) e.g. Uwumbɔr (God) y (as in yes) e.g. liyimbil (a name). Vowels The vowels are: a, e, i, o, ɔ, u. Grammar Lexical Tone Differences in tone can change the lexical function of a particular word. In contrast to many other Gur languages, Likpakpaln tones have no grammatical function. Grammatical Tone There are two-level tones; low (⸜) and high (⸝), which are used to distinguish between perfective and habitual aspects. The tones do not change regardless of the person specification of the noun or a pronoun. Noun Class System Pronouns Personal Pronouns Personal pronouns can either occur preverbally or postvebally. In both cases, there is an additional distinction in the third person with regard to animacy. Preverbal Preverbal personal pronouns are used as subjects. Which form for the first person pronoun is used, depends on the phonology of the following word. Postverbal Postverbal personal pronouns are used as objects. Emphatic Pronouns Emphatic pronouns are formed by a personal pronoun and an additional suffix. This suffix is in singular -ìn or -mà, whereas in the plural the suffix is -mì or -mà. Reciprocal Pronouns There is only one reciprocal pronoun tͻb in Likpakpaln. Reflexive Pronouns Rflexive pronouns are formed by the personal pronouns, to which the suffix -bà ('self') is attached to. Possessive Pronouns Possessive pronouns in Likpakpaln have the same morphological form than the preverbal personal pronouns. In special contexts, the prefix -aa can be attached to the possessum in order to emphasize the relation between the possessor and the possessum. Relative Pronouns Relative pronouns are dependent on the prefix of the noun that indicates its noun class. The relative pronoun is thus a reflection of the noun class and functions as a resumptive pronoun. Demonstrative Pronouns Demonstrative pronouns are formed by the noun class prefix of the particular noun and the suffix -mìnà. Likpakpaln makes a distinction between proximal and distal demonstratives. Syntax Word Order Likpakpaln is a Subject–verb–object language. Verb Phrase The VP consists of the main verb and preverbal particles encoding Tense, Aspect and Mood. Preverbal Particles Aspectual Particles There is a distinction between perfective and imperfective aspect. The perfective is not explicitly marked, while the imperfective is expressed by the particle -bì. Tense Particles There are five distinct tense forms that are morphologically realized by an individual particle. Likpakpaln marks immediate past (bà), remote past