Natural semantic metalanguage
Natural semantic metalanguage (NSM) is a theory in linguistics. It claims that languages can be simplified into a core, universal set of semantic primes, connected with syntactic frames that have equivalents in all languages.[1]
Toki Pona speech can be compared to explications in NSM. Both tend to have a heavy focus on circumlocution. However, the semantics of Toki Pona words are not quite as barebones as those of NSM primes, and some words cover multiple primes as a result.[2] Meanwhile, Toki Pona interestingly lacks direct expressions of several semantic primes.[2] Some are handled through grammatical particles, or can be translated as short phrases.[3] Others are much more technical to convey.
Semantic primes[edit | edit source]
The following table lists English[1] and core Toki Pona exponents of semantic primes. This may not indicate the grammar of NSM or Toki Pona. The prior art cited is not always accurate to the modern standard style.
| Category | English | Toki Pona |
|---|---|---|
| Substantives | I | mi[3][2] |
| you | sina[3][2] | |
| someone | jan[3][2] | |
| people | ||
| (some)thing | ijo[3][2] | |
| body | sijelo[3][2] | |
| Relational substantives | kind | See Kinds. |
| part | See Parts. | |
| Determiners | this | ni[3][2] |
| the same | sama[3][2] | |
| other/else | ante[3][2] | |
| Quantifiers | one | wan[3][2] |
| two | tu[3][2] | |
| some | See Some. | |
| all | ale/ali[3][2] | |
| much/many | mute[3][2] | |
| little/few | (mute) lili[2] | |
| Evaluators | good | pona[3][2] |
| bad | ike[3][2] | |
| Descriptors | big | suli[3][2] |
| small | (suli) lili[3][2] | |
| Mental predicates | think | See Thoughts. |
| know | sona[3][2] | |
| want | wile[3][2] | |
| feel | pilin[3][2] | |
| see | lukin[3][2] | |
| hear | kute[3][2] | |
| Speech | say | toki[3][2] |
| words | nimi[3][2] | |
| true | lon[3][2] | |
| Actions, events, movement | do | See Actions. |
| happen | ||
| move | tawa[3][2] | |
| Location, existence, specification | be (somewhere) | lon[3][2] |
| there is | ||
| be (someone/something) | Any noun used after li[2] (jan, ijo, etc.) | |
| Possession | (is) mine | (ijo/jo) mi[4] |
| Life and death | live | See Life. |
| die | moli[3][2] | |
| Time | when/time | tenpo[3][2] |
| now | See Here and now. | |
| before | See Before and after. | |
| after | ||
| a long time | tenpo suli[3] | |
| a short time | tenpo lili[3][2] | |
| for some time | See Some. | |
| moment | tenpo[2] | |
| Space | where/place | ma[3] |
| here | See Here and now. | |
| above | (lon) sewi[3][2] | |
| below | (lon) anpa[3][2] | |
| far | (lon) weka[2] | |
| near | (lon) poka[3] | |
| side | poka[3] | |
| inside | insa[3][2] | |
| touch | pilin[2] | |
| Logical concepts | not | ala[3][2] |
| maybe | (lon) ken (la)[3][2] | |
| can | ken[3][2] | |
| because | tan (ni:)[3][2] | |
| if | la[2] / lon ni: | |
| Intensifier, augmentor | very | mute[3]/suli/a |
| more | See Comparisons. | |
| Similarity | like/as/way | sama[5]/nasin[2] |
Semantic molecules[edit | edit source]
See also[edit | edit source]
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "What is NSM". Griffith University. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
- ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 2.12 2.13 2.14 2.15 2.16 2.17 2.18 2.19 2.20 2.21 2.22 2.23 2.24 2.25 2.26 2.27 2.28 2.29 2.30 2.31 2.32 2.33 2.34 2.35 2.36 2.37 2.38 2.39 2.40 2.41 2.42 2.43 2.44 Daniel K Lyons. (27 April 2017). "Natural Semantic Metalanguage and Toki Pona". Daniel’s blog. Archived from the original on 17 September 2019. Retrieved 24 April 2024.
- ↑ 3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 3.10 3.11 3.12 3.13 3.14 3.15 3.16 3.17 3.18 3.19 3.20 3.21 3.22 3.23 3.24 3.25 3.26 3.27 3.28 3.29 3.30 3.31 3.32 3.33 3.34 3.35 3.36 3.37 3.38 3.39 3.40 3.41 [liz, simonm]. (22 September 2003). "[probably OT] Perl in Natural Semantic Metalanguage". PerlMonks. Retrieved 24 April 2024. (Copy: (1 March 2009). "TP semantic prime words". Dave's wiki. PBworks. Retrieved 24 April 2024.)
- ↑ Lang, Sonja. (18 July 2021). Toki Pona Dictionary. Illustrated by Vacon Sartirani. Tawhid. ISBN 978-0978292362. p. 123.
- ↑ Lang, Sonja. (18 July 2021). Toki Pona Dictionary. Illustrated by Vacon Sartirani. Tawhid. ISBN 978-0978292362. p. 116.