Lexicalization: Difference between revisions
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Jan Ke Tami (talk | contribs) (semi-lexicalisation rather than lexicalisation; I don't think we can say that toki pona is culturally neutral/universal) |
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'''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. |
'''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. |
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Although [[Common lexicalizations|some |
Although [[Common lexicalizations|some phrases are in danger of becoming lexicalised through common use]], [[Toki Pona]] tries to avoid lexicalization for various reasons. |
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==Philosophy== |
==Philosophy== |
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The goal of Toki Pona is to break complicated concepts down into their important aspects, from the speaker's own perspective. This is dynamic. Different features will be important at different times, in different [[context]]s. And people have different perspectives. The |
The goal of Toki Pona is to break complicated concepts down into their important aspects, from the speaker's own perspective. This is dynamic. Different features will be important at different times, in different [[context]]s. And people have different perspectives. The lack of lexicalization is by design. |
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''[[pu]]'' presents a car as an example against lexicalization. To a passenger, a car might be ''tomo tawa'' ("moving room")<ref group="note">Ironically, ''tomo tawa'' [[Common lexicalizations|has become semi-lexicalized]] anyway.</ref>. To its driver, it might be ''ilo tawa'' ("going tool"). To a pedestrian that the car hit, it might be ''kiwen tawa'' ("moving hard thing"). Beyond these examples, a parked car might not be ''tawa'' at all, but ''awen'' ("staying"). You can refer to a car by any phrase as long as you've established the appropriate context. |
''[[pu]]'' presents a car as an example against lexicalization. To a passenger, a car might be ''tomo tawa'' ("moving room")<ref group="note">Ironically, ''tomo tawa'' [[Common lexicalizations|has become semi-lexicalized]] anyway.</ref>. To its driver, it might be ''ilo tawa'' ("going tool"). To a pedestrian that the car hit, it might be ''kiwen tawa'' ("moving hard thing"). Beyond these examples, a parked car might not be ''tawa'' at all, but ''awen'' ("staying"). You can refer to a car by any phrase as long as you've established the appropriate context. |
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Don't try to find '''"the phrase"''' for whatever concept you're trying to express. Think about it deeply. What is important about it to you? What is important to mention? |
Don't try to find '''"the phrase"''' for whatever concept you're trying to express. Think about it deeply. What is important about it to you? What is important to mention? |
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Many concepts also come with cultural baggage, |
Many concepts also come with cultural baggage, not fitting into Toki Pona's perspective. Any such lexicalization would lose a lot of nuance or import meaning dependent on a language not spoken by all listeners. It would also defeat the insight that Toki Pona is meant to provide. |
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For example, friendship means different things in different cultures. But what if ''jan pona'' ("good person") were lexicalized and always meant "friend"? Even if you think dogs aren't ''jan'', you would call "man's best friend" ''jan pona'' instead of ''soweli pona'' ("good animal"). You would also lose the insight that a bad friend, ''jan pona ike'', is a contradiction. This is because ''jan pona'' would be read as a unit, without thinking about what the individual words mean. |
For example, friendship means different things in different cultures. But what if ''jan pona'' ("good person") were lexicalized and always meant "friend"? Even if you think dogs aren't ''jan'', you would call "man's best friend" ''jan pona'' instead of ''soweli pona'' ("good animal"). You would also lose the insight that a bad friend, ''jan pona ike'', is a contradiction. This is because ''jan pona'' would be read as a unit, without thinking about what the individual words mean. |
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Every phrase lexicalized is another thing for everyone to memorize. |
Every phrase lexicalized is another thing for everyone to memorize. |
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Much of Toki Pona's popularity comes from its small lexicon. There are only 134 commonly accepted words [[ijo Linku#Word usage surveys|as of 2022]] |
Much of Toki Pona's popularity and charme comes from its small lexicon. There are only 134 commonly accepted words [[ijo Linku#Word usage surveys|as of 2022]]. Even if you include the 16 multi-word phrases in ''pu''<nowiki />'s [[Phrase Book]]<ref group="note">However, several of the Phrase Book entries can be interpreted as the literal sum of their words. ''ike a'', ''mi olin e sina'', etc. are completely transparent in their given meanings.</ref>, and a couple dozen other lexicalized phrases, this would all still be well under 200 lexemes to learn. |
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If Toki Pona were more eager to lexicalize, that count would almost certainly enter the thousands. This would make the language far more difficult to learn, while costing it the appeal of its simplicity. The phrases would also be quite arbitrarily assigned, creating even more rote memorization. |
If Toki Pona were more eager to lexicalize, that count would almost certainly enter the thousands. This would make the language far more difficult to learn, while costing it the appeal of its simplicity. The phrases would also be quite arbitrarily assigned, creating even more rote memorization. |
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