Native speakers: Difference between revisions

{{w|Reddit}} user u/eriksealander, referred to '''Erik Sealander''' throughout the rest of the article, is a language teacher, is controversially considered the father of the first native speakers of Toki Pona. In an interview with {{tok|[[Aronora]]}}, he stated that he started teaching his children Toki Pona as he is a language enthusiast and for the benefits of {{w|multilingualism}} at a young age. His children are also multilingual in both English and Arabic.<ref>{{cite YouTube|id=iZ2zBQbqKB8|title=INTERVIEW {{!}} The First Toki Pona Natives|author={{tok|jan Alonola}}|channel=Aronora|handle=Aronora|date=2020-11-29|access-date=2024-01-02}}</ref><ref>{{tok|jan Alonola}} (5 April 2021). "{{tok|toki tawa jan Elike (mama pi jan lili pi toki pona)}}". In [https://liputenpo.org/lipu-tenpo-nanpa-soweli/ {{tp|lipu tenpo nanpa soweli}}] (in Toki Pona). {{tp|lipu tenpo}}.</ref>

 

 

However, these claims has come into scrutiny by others. In 2023, after meeting in person with both Sealander and his family, {{tok|jan Kekan San}} noted that the children did not speak Toki Pona to him and could not answer questions when prompted, only .<ref name="kekan2023" /> He later on went to call this "at best stretching the truth and at worst a hoax".<ref name="olipija2023">{{cite web|url=https://lukapona.blogspot.com/2023/02/native-speakers-pi-toki-ponali-lon-ala.html|title=Native Speakers {{tok|pi toki pona li lon ala lon}}?|website=lukapona.blogpost.com|author={{tok|jan Olipija}}|date=2023-02-12|access-date=2024-01-21}}</ref> In a blog post, {{tok|jan Olijpija}} suggested that the children may have learnt Toki Pona, but failed to maintain it as they grew up. She compared this example to children in Wales learning {{w|Welsh language|Welsh}}, where because of the lack of prestige of the language, speakers tend to have insufficient skills in it.<ref name="olipija2023" />