Crossword Genius

Tickler to pick up pitch levels of the Chinese tongue (9)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

cantonese

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'tongue' is the definition.
(Cantonese is an example)

'tickler to pick up pitch levels of the chinese' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite understand how this works, but
'to' is found in the answer.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for cantonese that I've seen before include "Asian language?" , "Eastern language" , "way to cook" , "Form of Chinese" , "tongue" .)

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.
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