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Lexicalization: Difference between revisions
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The book {{lipu pu|en}} presents a car as an example against lexicalization. To a passenger, a car might be {{tp|tomo tawa}} ("moving room")<ref group="lower-alpha">Ironically, the phrase {{tp|tomo tawa}} [[Common lexicalizations|has become semi-lexicalized]] despite this warning.</ref>. To its driver, it might be {{tp|ilo tawa}} ("tool for moving"). To a pedestrian that the car hit, it might be {{tp|kiwen tawa}} ("hard moving thing") or {{tp|kiwen utala}} ("hard hitting thing").<ref>{{cite web |url=https://theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2015/07/toki-pona-smallest-language/398363 |title=How to Say Everything in a Hundred-Word Language |website=The Atlantic |author=Roc Morin |date=2015-07-15 |quote="What is a car?" Lang mused recently via phone from her home in Toronto. "You might say that a car is a space that's used for movement," she proposed. "That would be {{tp|tomo tawa}}. If you're struck by a car though, it might be a hard object that's hitting me. That's {{tp|kiwen utala}}."}}</ref> Beyond these examples, a parked car might not be {{tp|tawa}} at all, but {{tp|awen}} ("staying, unmoving"). Any phrase can refer to a car as long as there is appropriate context. Speakers are encouraged to avoid trying to find a set phrase for whatever concept one is trying to express and rather think deeply about what is important to mention.<ref>{{cite pu}}</ref>
===Cultural baggage===
Many concepts also come with {{w|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.
For example, {{w|friendship}} means different things in different cultures. However, if the phrase {{tp|jan pona}} ("good person") were lexicalized and always meant
===Loss of flexibility===
Lexicalization also makes it harder to refer to other valid referents of a phrase. For example, {{w|elevator}}s, {{w|gondola lift}}s, and {{w|gym}}s are all examples of {{tp|tomo tawa}} ({{lit|moving room, room of movement}}), but might be mistaken for cars if that phrase is lexicalized. This could result in each of those getting lexicalizations of their own, making matters worse.
==Size constraints==
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