Lexicalization: Difference between revisions

Content added Content deleted
(Created page with "'''Lexicalization''' occurs when a phrase becomes solidified as a unit with a fixed meaning. An English example is "high school", which only means a secondary school for higher education. It cannot refer to a school that is physically high up. A "pillow case" is only ever a cloth cover. It can't refer to another kind of case, such as a suitcase containing pillows. Although some lexicalized phrases have entered common use, Toki Pona tries t...")
 
mNo edit summary
Line 21: Line 21:
If enough head–[[modifier]] phrases were reserved in this way, modifiers would become much less useful. For example, you could not translate "red ball" as ''sike loje'', because that would refer to a fixed, more specific concept.
If enough head–[[modifier]] phrases were reserved in this way, modifiers would become much less useful. For example, you could not translate "red ball" as ''sike loje'', because that would refer to a fixed, more specific concept.


Considering the millions of concepts and phrases from all cultures, languages, and fields and subcultures with dedicated jargon, all 1 728 000 of the 3-word phrases could conceivably be filled up. Modifiers would become nearly useless—you could not translate "big car" as ''tomo tawa suli'', because it would mean something else like "truck" instead.
Considering the millions of concepts and phrases from all cultures, languages, and fields and subcultures with dedicated jargon, all 1 728 000 of the 3-word phrases could conceivably be filled up. Modifiers and simple [[preposition]]al phrases would become nearly useless—you could not translate "big car" as ''tomo tawa suli'', because it would mean something else like "truck" instead.


==Learning==
==Learning==