Common lexicalizations: Difference between revisions

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AnThis importantis parta list of ''toki'commons ponalexicalizations''' in Toki Pona and alternatives to them. An important part of Toki Pona [[philosophy]] is that the speaker must think about what something is at its core before they can talk about it. FixedAn phrasesobject foror specificsituation thingsis (alsodescribed known as [[Lexicalization|lexicalizations]]) are frowned upon, as they sidestep that aspect, while also forcing other speakersrelative to memorize such combinations and makinghow it difficultrelates to usethe them to refer to other things. Nonethelessspeaker, somewith lexicalizationsa dolarge creepamount intoof common usageflexibility. This page aims to catalog them and provide ideas for alternatives (which doesn't mean you shouldn't try to think of your own).
 
Fixed phrases for specific things, also known as [[lexicalization]]s, sidestep that process entirely. This is often seen as undesirable. In many cases it causes the speaker to give more context than is needed, or to describe something in a way detatched from it's context. It can be a source of confusion, if a speaker mistakenly believes the same construction can only ever mean one thing- thus failing to understand the intended nuance of the other party.
== Featured in ''[[pu]]'' ==
 
Nonetheless, some phrases are used in this fixed manner by some speakers. Ultimately, the context of the conversation, and how you relate to it should guide your word choices. A common lexicalization could incidentally be the most accurate way of communicating your intent. To abstract your intended meaning for the sake of "avoiding lexicalization" is to recreate the same departure from toki pona philosophy.
=== toki pona ===
 
==Phrases featured in {{tp|pu}}==
Meaning: the language of good by Sonja Lang
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Lexicalized phrase
! Meaning
! Alternatives
|-
! {{tp|toki pona}}<ref group="lower-alpha">Same goes for {{tp|[[sitelen pona]]}} and such.</ref>
| the Language of Good by [[Sonja Lang]]
| {{tp|toki ni}}, {{tp|toki lili}}, {{tp|toki pi nimi lili}}, {{tp|toki pi nimi mute ala}}, {{tp|toki pi nimi ale mute}} ([[How many words does toki pona have?|or more]])<br/>{{tp|toki pi jan Sonja}}, {{tp|toki pu}}, {{tp|toki tan lipu pu}}, {{tp|toki ku}}<br/>Any above, replacing {{tp|toki}} with {{tp|nasin toki}}
|-
! {{tp|tomo tawa}}<ref group="lower-alpha">Ironically, {{tp|pu}} uses this as an example of ''not'' lexicalizing, along with {{tp|ilo tawa}} for the perspective of a driver and {{tp|kiwen tawa}} for that of a hit pedestrian.</ref>
| car
| {{tp|ilo tawa}}, {{tp|kiwen tawa}}, {{tp|poki tawa}}, {{tp|supa mute tawa}}<br/>Any above, replacing {{tp|tawa}} with {{tp|awen}}, {{tp|pini}} (when parked, stopped, or braking)<br/>{{tp|tomo nasin}}, {{tp|poki jan}}, {{tp|tomo pi noka sike}}, {{tp|soweli ilo}}, {{tp|mani kiwen}}, {{tp|tomo pi weka ma}}, {{tp|tomo pi pana kon ike}}, {{tp|tomo pi sike kalama}}, {{tp|ilo moli}} (critical)
|-
! {{tp|telo nasa}}
| alcoholic drink
| {{tp|telo pan}}, {{tp|telo ike}}, {{tp|telo pona}}, {{tp|telo musi}}, {{tp|telo pi ante lawa}}, {{tp|telo pi lawa weka}}
|-
! {{tp|jan pona}}
| friend
| {{tp|jan poka}}, {{tp|jan olin}} (for close friends), {{tp|jan mi}}, {{tp|jan kulupu}}, {{tp|jan pi kulupu mi}}<br/>Any above, replacing {{tp|jan}} (for non–human friends)
|-
! {{tp|jan lili}}
| child
| {{tp|jan kili}}, {{tp|jan tan mama}} (as in offspring)<br/>{{tp|jan sin}}, {{tp|jan pi tenpo lili}} (as in youth)<br/>Any above, replacing {{tp|jan}} (for nonhuman children)
|}
 
==Time phrases==
Alternatives: toki ni, toki pi jan Sonja, [https://mun.la/lipu/toki-pona-is-a-weird-name.html toki Tokipona]
{{Main|Time}}
 
==Other phrases==
Notes: Same goes for ''sitelen pona'' and such.
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Lexicalized phrase
! Meaning
! Alternatives
|-
! {{tp|ma pona}}
| the Discord server {{tp|[[ma pona pi toki pona]]}}
| {{tp|ma ni}}, {{tp|ma pi suli nanpa wan}}, {{tp|ma pi akesi Jan}}
|-
! {{tp|jan sin}}
| newbie, especially in a {{tp|toki pona}} context
| {{tp|jan pi kama sona}}, {{tp|jan pi open sona}}, {{tp|jan pi sona lili}}<br/>Any above, replacing {{tp|jan}} (for non–human newcomers)
|-
! {{tp|nimi sin}}
| word created after {{tp|pu}} or {{tp|ku}}<hr/>word that would be new to someone who has only read {{tp|pu}} or {{tp|ku}}, even if created before
| {{tp|nimi namako}}, {{tp|nimi pi pu ala}}, {{tp|nimi pi ku ala}}, {{tp|nimi nasa}}, {{tp|nimi pi kepeken lili}}
|-
! {{tp|kasi nasa}}
| marijuana and its derivatives, such as edibles, vapes, etc.
| {{tp|moku nasa}}, {{tp|moku pi lawa weka}}, {{tp|kasi pi pilin nasa}}, {{tp|kasi pi wile moku}}, {{tp|kasi sona}}
|-
! {{tp|pana sona}}
| to teach, teaching, education
| {{tp|mi pana e sona}}, {{tp|sina kama sona tan mi}}
|-
! {{tp|soweli tomo}}
| pet
| {{tp|soweli pona}}, {{tp|soweli poka}}, {{tp|soweli mi}}, {{tp|soweli jan}}, {{tp|soweli olin}}, {{tp|soweli awen}}<br/>Any above, replacing {{tp|soweli}} (for non–land mammal pets)
|-
! {{tp|ken la}}
| maybe
| {{tp|lon ken}}, {{tp|ni li ken}}
|-
! {{tp|supa lape}}
| bed
| {{tp|ilo lape}}, {{tp|supa ko}}, {{tp|supa unpa}}
|-
! {{tp|kalama musi}}
| music
| {{tp|kalama}}, {{tp|musi kalama}}, {{tp|musi kute}}, {{tp|kalama nasin}}, {{tp|nasin kalama}}, {{tp|kalama kulupu}}, {{tp|kulupu kalama}}, {{tp|kalama pona}}, {{tp|mu musi}}
|-
! {{tp|ilo sona}}
| computer
| {{tp|ilo}}, {{tp|ilo nanpa}}, {{tp|poki nanpa}}, {{tp|ilo pi sitelen soweli}}, {{tp|ilo supa}}, {{tp|ilo wawa}}
|-
! {{tp|wile sona}}
| question
| {{tp|alasa sona}}, {{tp|kama sona}}, {{tp|toki tawa sona sin}}, {{tp|toki pi lon anu lon ala}}, {{tp|toki sama a ala a}}, {{tp|toki tan sona ona pi sona ala ona}}
|-
! {{tp|tomo telo}}
| bathroom
| {{tp|tomo jaki}}, {{tp|tomo pi pana/weka jaki}}, {{tp|tomo pi pona selo}}
|-
! {{tp|soweli mani}}
| cow
| {{tp|soweli suli}}, {{tp|soweli walo pimeja}}, {{tp|soweli pi telo walo}}
|}
 
=== tomo tawa =Notes==
<references group="lower-alpha"/>
 
Meaning: car
 
Alternatives: ilo tawa, poki tawa, soweli ilo
 
Notes: Funnily enough, ''pu'' uses this as part of a call ''not'' to lexicalize, proposing ''ilo tawa'' from the perspective of a driver and ''kiwen tawa'' for a near-hit pedestrian.
 
=== telo nasa ===
 
Meaning: alcoholic drink
 
Alternatives: telo pan, telo ike, telo pona
 
=== jan pona ===
 
Meaning: friend
 
Alternatives: jan poka, jan olin (for close friends), jan mi
 
=== jan lili ===
 
Meaning: child
 
Alternatives: jan kili (if as in offspring), jan sin (if as in young)
 
== Time phrases ==
 
=== tenpo [suno/esun/mun/sike] ===
 
Meaning: day/week/month/year
 
Alternatives: sike [], []
 
=== tenpo pini ===
 
Meaning: past
 
Alternatives: tenpo majuna, tenpo tan
 
=== tenpo ni ===
 
Meaning: present
 
Alternatives: tenpo lon, tenpo mi
 
=== tenpo kama ===
 
Meaning: future
 
Alternatives: tenpo sin, tenpo tawa, tenpo pi sona ala
 
== Other ==
 
=== ma pona ===
 
Meaning: the Discord server ''[[ma pona pi toki pona]]''
 
Alternatives: ma ni, ma pi suli nanpa wan, ma pi akesi Jan
 
=== jan sin ===
 
Meaning: newbie, especially in a ''toki pona'' context
 
Alternatives: jan pi kama sona, jan pi sona lili
 
=== nimi sin ===
 
Meaning: word created after ''pu''/''ku'', or worse: any word not in a given official set (including ones created before it)
 
Alternatives: nimi namako, nimi pi [pu/ku] ala, nimi nasa
 
=== kasi nasa ===
 
Meaning: marijuana and its derivatives such as edibles, vapes
 
Alternatives: moku nasa, moku pi lawa weka, kasi pi pilin nasa, kasi pi wile moku
 
=== pana sona ===
 
Meaning: to teach, teaching, education
 
Alternatives: "mi pana e sona," "sina kama sona tan mi"
 
=== soweli tomo ===
 
Meaning: pet
 
Alternatives: soweli pona, soweli poka, soweli mi, soweli jan