Apropos of not much:

Every time a discussion comes up regarding any one of several Asian languages, you hear comments about tonal languages, that the intonation of certain words in, say, Mandarin changes their meaning. This is generally followed up by a comment about how it might be difficult for an English speaker to understand, because English isn't a tonal language.

Malarkey.

English isn't a formally tonal language; it doesn't have a set of grammatical rules regarding what effects tonal changes have on meaning. On the other hand, it also doesn't have a set of strict grammatical rules regarding almost anything that affects meaning, so there's no reason to expect them for tonal shifts. But consider the following sentences:

• I didn't mean to shoot her.
• I didn't mean to shoot her.
• I didn't mean to shoot her.
• I didn't mean to shoot her.

The meaning of the sentence is fundamentally changed by a shift in intonation. Or, if you think of emphasis and intonation as unrelated concepts, consider the following phrase:

I'm going to the store

Adding terminal punctuation can give a variety of meanings:

• I'm going to the store.
• I'm going to the store?
• I'm going to the store!

In spoken English, that terminal punctuation is voiced via tonal shift.

The upshot, here, is that it isn't necessarily difficult for an English speaker to comprehend the idea of a tonal language. We already use tone to convey meaning, it's not much of a stretch to understand a language using tone more formally and pervasively for the same purpose.

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The following is an excerpt from an email my brother sent me, congratulating the lovely kazac and I on our engagement:

As I was informed, I expect the wedding to be during peony season. However, having a dubious grasp of what time frame that entails, I am curious as to whether the implication is ante-3/26 or post-3/26. I of course realize the laws regarding certain forms of celebration when wedding-involved. Yet some things are just more fun when of age.

How much I enjoy the merriment is not the main topic to consider, however. I'm sure the celebration will be full of peonies at whatever time the peonies decide is appropriate, and that is as it should be. Power to the peonies.

Indeed.

Power to the peonies.