[en] In order to obtain a deeper understanding of the spin interactions between the magnetic moments of the Tb-ions and the Mn-ions in multiferroic TbMnO₃, inelastic neutron scattering experiments (at the ILL in Grenoble and the Bragg Institute at ANSTO) are performed on isostructural, non-multiferroic TbVO₃. Acoustic and optical magnon branches are identified at energies comparable to the spin wave excitation spectrum of YVO₃. In addition, a crystal field excitation arising from the Tb-ions is identified at the energy of 14.9 meV. This is substantially larger than the crystal field excitation at 4.5 meV in TbMnO₃.