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{{Needs work|Prior art to cite and synthesize:
*{{cite web|url=//www.perlmonks.org/index.pl?node_id=293159|title=<nowiki>[probably OT]</nowiki> Perl in Natural Semantic Metalanguage|author=|username=liz|date=Sep 22, 2003|website=PerlMonks|publisher=|access-date=2024-04-24|quote=}}
*{{cite web|url=https://aiki.pbworks.com/w/page/1594812/TP%20semantic%20prime%20words|title=TP semantic prime words|author=|username=|date=March 1, 2009|website=Dave's wiki|publisher=PBworks|access-date=2024-04-24|quote=}}
*{{cite web|url=//storytotell.org/post/natural-semantic-metalanguage-and-toki-pona|url-status=unfit|title=Natural Semantic Metalanguage and Toki Pona|author=Daniel K Lyons|username=|date=Apr 27, 2017|website=Daniel’s blog|publisher=|archive-url=//web.archive.org/web/20190917194319/http://www.storytotell.org/post/natural-semantic-metalanguage-and-toki-pona/|archive-date=20190917|access-date=2024-04-24|quote=}}
}}
'''Natural semantic metalanguage'''{{aside|'''NSM'''}} is a theory in {{w|linguistics}}. It claims that languages can be simplified into a core, universal set of ''{{w|semantic prime}}s'', connected with [[syntactic]] frames that have equivalents in all languages.<ref name="What is NSM">{{cite web|url=//intranet.secure.griffith.edu.au/schools-departments/natural-semantic-metalanguage/what-is-nsm|title=What is NSM|author=|username=|date=|website={{w|Griffith University}}|publisher=|access-date=2024-04-17|quote=}}</ref>
'''Natural semantic metalanguage'''{{aside|'''NSM'''}} is a theory in {{w|linguistics}}. It claims that languages can be simplified into a core, universal set of ''{{w|semantic prime}}s'', connected with [[syntactic]] frames that have equivalents in all languages.<ref name="What is NSM">{{cite web|url=//intranet.secure.griffith.edu.au/schools-departments/natural-semantic-metalanguage/what-is-nsm|title=What is NSM|author=|username=|date=|website={{w|Griffith University}}|publisher=|access-date=2024-04-17|quote=}}</ref>


[[Toki Pona]] speech can be compared to explications in NSM. Both tend to have a heavy focus on [[circumlocution]]. However, the [[semantic]]s of [[Toki Pona]] words are not quite as [[Minimalism|barebones]] as those of NSM primes. Meanwhile, Toki Pona interestingly lacks direct expressions of several semantic primes. Some are handled through [[grammatical]] [[particle]]s. Others are much more technical to convey.
[[Toki Pona]] speech can be compared to explications in NSM. Both tend to have a heavy focus on [[circumlocution]]. However, the [[semantic]]s of [[Toki Pona]] words are not quite as [[Minimalism|barebones]] as those of NSM primes, and some words cover multiple primes as a result.<ref name="Daniel">{{cite web|url=//storytotell.org/post/natural-semantic-metalanguage-and-toki-pona|url-status=unfit|title=Natural Semantic Metalanguage and Toki Pona|author=Daniel K Lyons|username=|date=Apr 27, 2017|website=Daniel’s blog|publisher=|archive-url=//web.archive.org/web/20190917194319/http://www.storytotell.org/post/natural-semantic-metalanguage-and-toki-pona/|archive-date=20190917|access-date=2024-04-24|quote=}}</ref> Meanwhile, Toki Pona interestingly lacks direct expressions of several semantic primes.<ref name="Daniel" /> Some are handled through [[grammatical]] [[particle]]s, or can be translated as short [[phrase]]s.<ref name="Perl">{{cite web|url=//www.perlmonks.org/index.pl?node_id=293159|title=<nowiki>[probably OT]</nowiki> Perl in Natural Semantic Metalanguage|author=|username=liz, simonm|date=Sep 22, 2003|website=PerlMonks|publisher=|access-date=2024-04-24|quote=}} (Copy: {{cite web|url=https://aiki.pbworks.com/w/page/1594812/TP%20semantic%20prime%20words|title=TP semantic prime words|author=|username=|date=March 1, 2009|website=Dave's wiki|publisher=PBworks|access-date=2024-04-24|quote=}})</ref> Others are much more technical to convey.


==Semantic primes==
==Semantic primes==
The following table lists English<ref name="What is NSM" /> and [[Usage categories|core]] Toki Pona exponents of semantic primes.
The following table lists English<ref name="What is NSM" /> and [[Usage categories|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]].


{|class="wikitable sortable"
{|class="wikitable sortable"
Line 18: Line 13:
|rowspan="6"|Substantives
|rowspan="6"|Substantives
|I
|I
|{{tp|[[mi]]}}
|{{tp|[[mi]]}}<ref name="Perl" /><ref name="Daniel" />
|-
|-
|you
|you
|{{tp|[[sina]]}}
|{{tp|[[sina]]}}<ref name="Perl" /><ref name="Daniel" />
|-
|-
|someone
|someone
|rowspan="2"|{{tp|[[jan]]}}
|rowspan="2"|{{tp|[[jan]]}}<ref name="Perl" /><ref name="Daniel" />
|-
|-
|people
|people
|-
|-
|(some)thing
|(some)thing
|{{tp|[[ijo]]}}
|{{tp|[[ijo]]}}<ref name="Perl" /><ref name="Daniel" />
|-
|-
|body
|body
|{{tp|[[sijelo]]}}
|{{tp|[[sijelo]]}}<ref name="Perl" /><ref name="Daniel" />
|-
|-
|rowspan="2"|Relational substantives
|rowspan="2"|Relational substantives
Line 43: Line 38:
|rowspan="3"|Determiners
|rowspan="3"|Determiners
|this
|this
|{{tp|[[ni]]}}
|{{tp|[[ni]]}}<ref name="Perl" /><ref name="Daniel" />
|-
|-
|the same
|the same
|{{tp|[[sama]]}}
|{{tp|[[sama]]}}<ref name="Perl" /><ref name="Daniel" />
|-
|-
|other/else
|other/else
|{{tp|[[ante]]}}
|{{tp|[[ante]]}}<ref name="Perl" /><ref name="Daniel" />
|-
|-
|rowspan="6"|Quantifiers
|rowspan="6"|Quantifiers
|one
|one
|{{tp|[[wan]]}}
|{{tp|[[wan]]}}<ref name="Perl" /><ref name="Daniel" />
|-
|-
|two
|two
|{{tp|[[tu]]}}
|{{tp|[[tu]]}}<ref name="Perl" /><ref name="Daniel" />
|-
|-
|some
|some
Line 62: Line 57:
|-
|-
|all
|all
|{{tp|[[ale]]}}
|{{tp|[[ale]]/[[ali]]}}<ref name="Perl" /><ref name="Daniel" />
|-
|-
|much/many
|much/many
|{{tp|[[mute]]}}
|{{tp|[[mute]]}}<ref name="Perl" /><ref name="Daniel" />
|-
|-
|little/few
|little/few
|{{tp|([[mute]]) [[lili]]}}
|{{tp|([[mute]]) [[lili]]}}<ref name="Daniel" />
|-
|-
|rowspan="2"|Evaluators
|rowspan="2"|Evaluators
|good
|good
|{{tp|[[pona]]}}
|{{tp|[[pona]]}}<ref name="Perl" /><ref name="Daniel" />
|-
|-
|bad
|bad
|{{tp|[[ike]]}}
|{{tp|[[ike]]}}<ref name="Perl" /><ref name="Daniel" />
|-
|-
|rowspan="2"|Descriptors
|rowspan="2"|Descriptors
|big
|big
|{{tp|[[suli]]}}
|{{tp|[[suli]]}}<ref name="Perl" /><ref name="Daniel" />
|-
|-
|small
|small
|{{tp|([[suli]]) [[lili]]}}
|{{tp|([[suli]]) [[lili]]}}<ref name="Perl" /><ref name="Daniel" />
|-
|-
|rowspan="6"|Mental predicates
|rowspan="6"|Mental predicates
Line 89: Line 84:
|-
|-
|know
|know
|{{tp|[[sona]]}}
|{{tp|[[sona]]}}<ref name="Perl" /><ref name="Daniel" />
|-
|-
|want
|want
|{{tp|[[wile]]}}
|{{tp|[[wile]]}}<ref name="Perl" /><ref name="Daniel" />
|-
|-
|feel
|feel
|{{tp|[[pilin]]}}
|{{tp|[[pilin]]}}<ref name="Perl" /><ref name="Daniel" />
|-
|-
|see
|see
|{{tp|[[lukin]]}}
|{{tp|[[lukin]]}}<ref name="Perl" /><ref name="Daniel" />
|-
|-
|hear
|hear
|{{tp|[[kute]]}}
|{{tp|[[kute]]}}<ref name="Perl" /><ref name="Daniel" />
|-
|-
|rowspan="3"|Speech
|rowspan="3"|Speech
|say
|say
|{{tp|[[toki]]}}
|{{tp|[[toki]]}}<ref name="Perl" /><ref name="Daniel" />
|-
|-
|words
|words
|{{tp|[[nimi]]}}
|{{tp|[[nimi]]}}<ref name="Perl" /><ref name="Daniel" />
|-
|-
|true
|true
|{{tp|[[lon]]}}
|{{tp|[[lon]]}}<ref name="Perl" /><ref name="Daniel" />
|-
|-
|rowspan="3"|Actions, events, movement
|rowspan="3"|Actions, events, movement
Line 119: Line 114:
|happen
|happen
|-
|-
|move
|true
|{{tp|[[tawa]]}}<ref name="Perl" /><ref name="Daniel" />
|rowspan="3"|{{tp|[[lon]]}}
|-
|-
|rowspan="3"|Location, existence, specification
|rowspan="3"|Location, existence, specification
|be (somewhere)
|be (somewhere)
|rowspan="2"|{{tp|[[lon]]}}<ref name="Perl" /><ref name="Daniel" />
|-
|-
|there is
|there is
|-
|-
|be (someone/something)
|be (someone/something)
|{{N/A|Any [[noun]] [[Part-of-speech roles|used after]] {{tp|[[li]]}}<br />({{tp|[[jan]]}}, {{tp|[[ijo]]}}, etc.)}}
|{{N/A|Any [[noun]] [[Part-of-speech roles|used after]] {{tp|[[li]]}}<ref name="Daniel" /><br />({{tp|[[jan]]}}, {{tp|[[ijo]]}}, etc.)}}
|-
|-
|Possession
|Possession
|(is) mine
|(is) mine
|{{tp|([[jo]]) [[mi]]}}
|{{tp|([[ijo]]/[[jo]]) [[mi]]}}<ref>{{cite ku|123}}</ref>
|-
|-
|rowspan="2"|Life and death
|rowspan="2"|Life and death
Line 139: Line 135:
|-
|-
|die
|die
|{{tp|[[moli]]}}
|{{tp|[[moli]]}}<ref name="Perl" /><ref name="Daniel" />
|-
|-
|rowspan="8"|[[Time]]
|rowspan="8"|[[Time]]
|when/time
|when/time
|{{tp|[[tenpo]]}}
|{{tp|[[tenpo]]}}<ref name="Perl" /><ref name="Daniel" />
|-
|-
|now
|now
Line 154: Line 150:
|-
|-
|a long time
|a long time
|{{tp|[[tenpo]] [[suli]]}}
|{{tp|[[tenpo]] [[suli]]}}<ref name="Perl" />
|-
|-
|a short time
|a short time
|{{tp|[[tenpo]] [[lili]]}}
|{{tp|[[tenpo]] [[lili]]}}<ref name="Perl" /><ref name="Daniel" />
|-
|-
|for some time
|for some time
Line 163: Line 159:
|-
|-
|moment
|moment
|{{tp|[[tenpo]]}}
|{{tp|[[tenpo]]}}<ref name="Daniel" />
|-
|-
|rowspan="9"|Space
|rowspan="9"|Space
|where/place
|where/place
|{{tp|[[ma]]}}
|{{tp|[[ma]]}}<ref name="Perl" />
|-
|-
|here
|here
Line 173: Line 169:
|-
|-
|above
|above
|{{tp|[[lon]] [[sewi]]}}
|{{tp|([[lon]]) [[sewi]]}}<ref name="Perl" /><ref name="Daniel" />
|-
|-
|below
|below
|{{tp|[[lon]] [[anpa]]}}
|{{tp|([[lon]]) [[anpa]]}}<ref name="Perl" /><ref name="Daniel" />
|-
|-
|far
|far
|{{tp|([[lon]]) [[weka]]}}
|{{tp|([[lon]]) [[weka]]}}<ref name="Daniel" />
|-
|-
|near
|near
|{{tp|[[lon]] [[poka]]}}
|{{tp|([[lon]]) [[poka]]}}<ref name="Perl" />
|-
|-
|side
|side
|{{tp|[[poka]]}}
|{{tp|[[poka]]}}<ref name="Perl" />
|-
|-
|inside
|inside
|{{tp|[[insa]]}}
|{{tp|[[insa]]}}<ref name="Perl" /><ref name="Daniel" />
|-
|-
|touch
|touch
|{{tp|[[pilin]]}}
|{{tp|[[pilin]]}}<ref name="Daniel" />
|-
|-
|rowspan="5"|Logical concepts
|rowspan="5"|Logical concepts
|not
|not
|{{tp|[[ala]]}}
|{{tp|[[ala]]}}<ref name="Perl" /><ref name="Daniel" />
|-
|-
|maybe
|maybe
|{{tp|([[lon]]) [[ken]] ([[la]])}}
|{{tp|([[lon]]) [[ken]] ([[la]])}}<ref name="Perl" /><ref name="Daniel" />
|-
|-
|can
|can
|{{tp|[[ken]]}}
|{{tp|[[ken]]}}<ref name="Perl" /><ref name="Daniel" />
|-
|-
|because
|because
|{{tp|[[tan]] ([[ni]]:)}}
|{{tp|[[tan]] ([[ni]]:)}}<ref name="Perl" /><ref name="Daniel" />
|-
|-
|if
|if
|{{tp|[[la]] / [[lon]] [[ni]]:}}
|{{tp|[[la]]<ref name="Daniel" /> / [[lon]] [[ni]]:}}
|-
|-
|rowspan="2"|Intensifier, augmentor
|rowspan="2"|Intensifier, augmentor
|very
|very
|{{tp|[[mute]]/[[suli]]/[[a]]}}
|{{tp|[[mute]]<ref name="Perl" />/[[suli]]/[[a]]}}
|-
|-
|more
|more
Line 218: Line 214:
|Similarity
|Similarity
|like/as/way
|like/as/way
|{{tp|[[sama]]/[[nasin]]}}
|{{tp|[[sama]]<ref>{{cite ku|116}}</ref>/[[nasin]]<ref name="Daniel" />}}
|}
|}


Latest revision as of 20:40, 1 May 2024

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]

Under construction This section needs work. If you know about this topic, you can help us by editing it. (See all)

See also[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]

English Wikipedia has an article on
natural semantic metalanguage.
  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "What is NSM". Griffith University. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
  2. ↑ 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. ↑ 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.)
  4. ↑ Lang, Sonja. (18 July 2021). Toki Pona Dictionary. Illustrated by Vacon Sartirani. Tawhid. ISBN 978-0978292362. p. 123.
  5. ↑ Lang, Sonja. (18 July 2021). Toki Pona Dictionary. Illustrated by Vacon Sartirani. Tawhid. ISBN 978-0978292362. p. 116.
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