Editing Meeussen's rule (section)

==Examples== 
Here are some illustrations of the phenomenon in [[Kirundi]], a Bantu language of [[Burundi]] (examples adapted from Philippson 1998).

===In verb forms===
* na-rá-zi-báriira &nbsp; (I-<small>PAST</small>-them.<small>CL</small>10-to sew) &nbsp; 'I was sewing them' (''them'' refers to a [[noun class|class]] 10 plural)
* na-rá-bariira &nbsp; (I-<small>PAST</small>-to sew) &nbsp; 'I was sewing'
In the first sentence, both the tense marker ''rá'' and the verb form ''báriira'' (to sew) carry a high tone, signified by the [[acute accent]]. They are separated by the pronominal marker ''zi''. In the second sentence, the pronominal marker ''zi'' is left out, resulting in two adjacent high tones. The phenomenon described by Meeussen's rule causes the second high tone to change into a low tone.

===In noun forms===
* bukéeye > umuɲábukéeye
* mwáaro > umuɲámwaaro
The examples show a way of [[derivation (linguistics)|deriving]] from place names nouns with the meaning 'a person originating from'. In the first example, the place name ''bukéeye'' has a high tone on the second syllable. The junction with ''umuɲá'' ('person from') has no influence on this tone. In the second example, a place name with a High tone on the first syllable is used. Like above, the second high tone of the resulting pattern of two adjacent high tones is changed into a low tone because of the phenomenon described by Meeussen's rule.

===HHH > HLL===
Just as HH (high tone + high tone) can become HL (high tone + low tone) by Meeussen's rule, HHH also often becomes HLL, and HHHH becomes HLLL. Thus in [[Luganda]], a Bantu language of [[Uganda]], the word ''*b'''á'''-l'''í'''-l'''á'''ba'' 'they will see', which theoretically has three High tones, is actually pronounced ''b'''á'''lilabá'' with only one.<ref>Hyman & Katamba (1993), pp.&nbsp;36, 45.</ref> (The tone on the last syllable is an automatically generated phrasal tone; see [[Luganda tones]].)

This process does not operate in the same way in every language, however. For example, in [[Shona language|Shona]], a Bantu language of Zimbabwe]], the similar verb *'''''á'''-ch'''á'''-t'''é'''ng'''á''''' 'he will buy' transforms to '''''á'''-cha-t'''é'''ng'''á''''', where only one syllable is lowered by Meeussen's rule.<ref>Myers (1997), p. 864.</ref>