What is the role of pitch in tone languages?

In tone languages, pitch plays a crucial role in determining word meaning. Each tone can correspond to a different word or meaning, even if the consonants and vowels are the same. For instance, in languages like Mandarin Chinese, the same syllable pronounced with different pitches can signify entirely different concepts. This pivotal function of pitch in conveying meaning distinguishes tone languages from non-tone languages, where pitch might convey other aspects like intonation or emphasis but does not typically change word meanings. Understanding this relationship between pitch and lexical distinctions is essential for grasping how communication is structured in tone languages.