7,935
edits
Glossary: Difference between revisions
no edit summary
(Add a definition for "modifier") |
No edit summary |
||
| (16 intermediate revisions by 4 users not shown) | |||
Line 1:
This is a
==
;adjective<span id="Adjective" /><span id="adjective" />
:A word that [[#modifier|modifies]] or describes a [[#noun|noun]]. In English, "big" and "tall" are adjectives. In Toki Pona, [[#modifier|modifiers]] that follow words in a noun-like position may be called adjectives.
;adverb<span id="Adverb" /><span id="adverb" />
:A word that [[#modifier|modifies]] or describes a [[#verb|verb]]. In English, they often end in "
;ambiguous<span id="Ambiguous" /><span id="ambiguous" />
:{{Main|Vagueness vs. ambiguity}}Of a [[#sentence|sentence]], having [[#syntax|syntax]] that can be interpreted multiple different ways. In English, the sentence "I saw my friend with a telescope." is ambiguous, as "with a telescope" could describe the friend or the action of seeing; either person could have the telescope. Toki Pona's [[Prepositions|prepositions]] often introduce ambiguity.
==
;clause<span id="Clause" /><span id="clause" />
:{{Main|Phrases and clauses}}A part of a [[#sentence|sentence]] consisting of a [[#subject|subject]] and [[#predicate|predicate]]. In Toki Pona, the [[#particle|particle]] {{tp|[[la]]}} can join two clauses.
;content word<span id="Content Word" /><span id="Content word" /><span id="content word" />
:{{Main|Content words}}The main type of word in [[Toki Pona]], which can be used as a [[#head|head]] or [[#modifier|modifier]] (and thus like a [[#noun|noun]], [[#verb|verb]], [[#adjective|adjective]], or [[#adverb|adverb]], although its primary definition's part of speech can affect its meaning in other parts of speech). In Toki Pona, {{tp|[[pona]]}}, {{tp|[[suwi]]}}, and {{tp|[[moku]]}} are examples of content words. Contrast [[#particle|particle]].
==
;head<span id="Head" /><span id="head" />
:{{Main|Phrases and clauses}}A word affected by [[#modifier|modifiers]]. In Toki Pona, the first word of a [[#phrase|phrase]] is the head.
==
;imperative<span id="Imperative" /><span id="imperative" />
:A grammatical mood that expresses a command or instruction. In English, "Do as I say, not as I do." and "Go!" are imperative [[#sentence|sentences]]. [[Toki Pona]] marks the imperative with {{tp|[[o]]}}. Contrast [[#indicative|indicative]], [[#optative|optative]], [[#vocative|vocative]].
;indicative<span id="Indicative" /><span id="indicative" />
:A grammatical mood that describes a real or actual thing. In English, "The cat is cute." is an indicative [[#sentence|sentence]]. Contrast [[#imperative|imperative]], [[#optative|optative]], [[#vocative|vocative]].
;intransitive verb<span id="Intransitive Verb" /><span id="Intransitive verb" /><span id="intransitive verb" />
:A [[#verb|verb]] that cannot take a direct [[#object|object]]. In English, the verb "smile" is almost always intransitive, as in "the baby smiles"; the alternative, "the baby smiles a ball", doesn't make sense. Contrast [[#transitive verb|transitive verb]]. See also the article [[Transitivity]].
==
;modifier<span id="Modifier" /><span id="modifier" />
:{{Main|Modifiers}}In [[Toki Pona]] grammar, an [[#adjective|adjective]] or [[#adverb|adverb]]. Unlike English, Toki Pona never distinguishes these parts of speech; any word that can modify a [[#noun|noun]] can also modify a [[#verb|verb]], and vice versa.
==
;noun<span id="Noun" /><span id="noun" />
:A word that names a person, place, or thing. "Fish" and "tree" are common nouns; "Oklahoma" is a [[#proper noun|proper noun]]. In Toki Pona, [[#content word|content words]] in many [[#head|head]] positions may be called nouns.
==
;object<span id="Object" /><span id="object" />
:{{Needs work|indirect object, comparison of direct vs. indirect objects|entry}}The thing(s) to which the action of the [[#sentence|sentence]] is done. In English, in the sentence "You pet the dog.", "the dog" is the direct object. In Toki Pona, the direct object is marked with the [[#particle|particle]] {{tp|[[e]]}}.
;optative<span id="Optative" /><span id="optative" />
:A grammatical mood that expresses a wish, hope, or desire. In English, "The children should do their homework." is an optative [[#sentence|sentence]]. Contrast [[#imperative|imperative]], [[#indicative|indicative]], [[#vocative|vocative]].
==
;particle<span id="Particle" /><span id="particle" />
:{{Main|Particles}}A word that marks the grammatical structure of a [[#sentence|sentence]], having no [[#semantic (value)|semantic]] meaning in itself. In Toki Pona, {{tp|[[li]]}}, {{tp|[[e]]}}, and {{tp|[[pi]]}} are examples of particles. Contrast [[#content word|content word]].
;phrase<span id="Phrase" /><span id="phrase" />
:{{Main|Phrases and clauses}}A group of consecutive words consisting of a [[#head|head]] and [[#modifier|modifiers]].
;predicate<span id="Predicate" /><span id="predicate" />
:The part of a [[#sentence|sentence]] that includes a [[#verb|verb]] and sometimes [[#object|objects]]. In the sentence "The human looks at the tree", "looks at the tree" is the predicate. In Toki Pona, the predicate is marked with the [[#particle|particle]] {{tp|[[li]]}} or sometimes {{tp|[[o]]}}. Contrast [[#subject|subject]].
;preposition<span id="Preposition" /><span id="preposition" />
:{{Main|Prepositions}}A word that describes a [[#noun|noun]]'s relationship to the rest of the [[#sentence|sentence]] in time or space. In English, "after" and "beside" are prepositions. Often the preposition and the noun it introduces are referred to as a "prepositional [[#phrase|phrase]]". In the sentence "Don't give coffee to infants.", "to infants" is a prepositional phrase.
;preverb<span id="Preverb" /><span id="preverb" />
:{{Main|Preverbs}}A [[#verb|verb]] that accompanies the main verb to make distinctions in grammatical mood or aspect; an auxiliary (helping) verb.
;proper adjective<span id="Proper Adjective" /><span id="Proper adjective" /><span id="proper adjective" />
:{{Main|Names}}In [[Toki Pona]] grammar, an [[#adjective|adjective]] that [[name]]s a specific or definite thing, equivalent to a [[#proper noun|proper noun]] but requiring a [[headnoun]]. Proper adjectives are the only standard words that are capitalized in {{tp|[[sitelen Lasina]]}}.
;proper noun<span id="Proper Noun" /><span id="Proper noun" /><span id="proper noun" />
:A [[#noun|noun]] that names a specific or definite thing. Personal names and names of places are usually proper nouns. In English, "Preston", "Europe", and "Mount Everest" are proper nouns. In standard Toki Pona, proper names are not nouns; see [[#proper adjective|proper adjective]].
==S==
;semantics<span id="Semantic (Value)" /><span id="Semantic (value)" /><span id="semantic (value)" /><span id="semantic space" /><span id="Semantics" /><span id="semantics" />
:{{Main|Semantic space}}The "meaning" of a word. Semantics is concerned with the possible alternative words that could occupy a single position in a [[#sentence|sentence]]. Contrast [[#syntax|syntax]].
;semiparticle<span id="Semi-particle" /><span id="semiparticle" />
:In Toki Pona grammar, a word that can be used as a [[particle]] to modify the syntax of a [[#sentence|sentence]], but which also has a [[semantic space]] and can be used as a [[#content word|content word]].
;sentence<span id="Sentence" /><span id="sentence" />
:A group of words that contain a [[#subject|subject]] and a [[#predicate|predicate]]. In English, "Dogs chase cats." is a sentence. "Apple pie" is not; it is a sentence fragment, and more specifically a [[#phrase|phrase]].
;subject<span id="Subject" /><span id="subject" />
:The main actor or actors in a [[#sentence|sentence]]. In the sentence "I read the book," the word "I" is the subject. In Toki Pona, subjects are often unmarked, but multiple subjects are joined with the [[#particle|particle]] {{tp|[[en]]}}. Contrast [[#predicate|predicate]].
;syntax<span id="Syntax" /><span id="syntax" />
:The position of words in a [[#sentence|sentence]] or phrase. Often words are categorized by the kinds of positions they can occupy in a sentence, or what words they can appear next to. Contrast [[#semantic (value)|semantic (value)]].
==T==
;transitive verb<span id="Transitive Verb" /><span id="Transitive verb" /><span id="transitive verb" />
:{{Main|Transitivity}}A [[#verb|verb]] that takes a direct [[#object|object]]. In English, the verb "eat" can be transitive: in "I eat the cookie.", it takes the direct object "the cookie". In Toki Pona, transitive verbs are followed by the particle {{tp|[[e]]}} and the direct object. Contrast [[#intransitive verb|intransitive verb]].
==V==
;vague<span id="Vague" /><span id="vague" />
:{{Main|Vagueness vs. ambiguity}}Broad and unclear; not specific or precise. Most Toki Pona words cover a wide [[semantic space]], so their individual meanings are often vaguer than words in other languages.
;verb<span id="Verb" /><span id="verb" />
:A word that names an action. In English, "run", "sit", and "be" are verbs. In Toki Pona, [[#content word|content words]] that are [[#preverb|preverbs]] or the [[#head|head]] of a [[#predicate|predicate]] may be called verbs.
;vocative<span id="Vocative" /><span id="vocative" />
:A form of a [[#noun|noun]] used to call to or address something or someone. In English, in "Hey you!", the word "you" is vocative. English does not usually distinguish vocative from non-vocative nouns, aside from the archaic particle "O" as in "{{w|O Canada}}". [[Toki Pona]] marks the vocative with {{tp|[[o]]}}. Contrast [[#imperative|imperative]], [[#indicative|indicative]], [[#optative|optative]].
==See also==
*{{wt|Appendix:Glossary}} on Wiktionary
*[[List of English words from Toki Pona]]
| |||