Common lexicalizations: Difference between revisions

 

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.

! Alternatives

|-

| 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}}

|-

| 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)

|-

| alcoholic drink

| {{tp|telo pan}}, {{tp|telo ike}}, {{tp|telo pona}}, {{tp|telo musi}}, {{tp|telo pi ante lawa}}, {{tp|telo pi lawa weka}}

|-

| 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)

|-

| 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)

! Alternatives

|-

| the Discord server {{tp|[[ma pona pi toki pona]]}}

| {{tp|ma ni}}, {{tp|ma pi suli nanpa wan}}, {{tp|ma pi akesi Jan}}

|-

| 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)

|-

| 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}}

|-

| 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}}

|-

| to teach, teaching, education

| {{tp|mi pana e sona}}, {{tp|sina kama sona tan mi}}

|-

| 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)

|-

| maybe

| {{tp|lon ken}}, {{tp|ni li ken}}

|-

| bed

| {{tp|ilo lape}}, {{tp|supa ko}}, {{tp|supa unpa}}

|-

| music

|-

| computer

| {{tp|ilo}}, {{tp|ilo nanpa}}, {{tp|poki nanpa}}, {{tp|ilo pi sitelen soweli}}, {{tp|ilo supa}}, {{tp|ilo wawa}}

|-

| 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}}

|-

| bathroom

| {{tp|tomo jaki}}, {{tp|tomo pi pana/weka jaki}}, {{tp|tomo pi pona selo}}

|-

| cow

| {{tp|soweli suli}}, {{tp|soweli walo pimeja}}, {{tp|soweli pi telo walo}}