Personal pronouns: Difference between revisions
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{{nimi|mi |
{{nimi|mi |
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|PoS=content word |
|PoS=content word |
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{{nimi|sina |
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|PoS=content word |
|PoS=content word |
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| ⚫ | |||
{{nimi|ona |
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|PoS=content word |
|PoS=content word |
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}} |
}} |
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The '''personal pronouns''' in [[Toki Pona]] are '''{{tp|mi}}''' (first-person), '''{{tp|sina}}''' (second-person), and '''{{tp|ona}}''' (third-person). In terms of morphology and syntax, pronouns act the same as any other [[content word]]. |
The '''personal pronouns''' in [[Toki Pona]] are '''{{tp|[[mi]]}}''' (first-person), '''{{tp|[[sina]]}}''' (second-person), and '''{{tp|[[ona]]}}''' (third-person). In terms of morphology and syntax, pronouns act the same as any other [[content word]]. |
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==Etymology== |
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The word {{tp|mi}} is derived from {{w|Esperanto}} ''{{lang|eo|mi}}'', itself from the third-person oblique pronoun in Romance and Germanic languages, and English ''me''; {{tp|sina}} from {{w|Finnish language|Finnish}} ''{{lang|fi|sinä}}'', meaning "you";<ref name="etym">{{cite etym}}</ref> and {{tp|ona}} from {{w|Serbo-Croatian language|Serbo-Croatian}} ''{{lang|hr|ona}}'' / {{lang|rs|она}}, meaning "she".<ref>{{tok|jan inwin}}. [https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1t-pjAgZDyKPXcCRnEdATFQOxGbQFMjZm-8EvXiQd2Po/edit?usp=sharing {{tok|nimi ale pona}} (2nd ed.)]. ''Google Sheets''. Retrieved 13 October 2023.</ref> |
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==Number== |
==Number== |
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| ⚫ | Pronouns are grammatically unmarked for {{w|Grammatical number|number}}, meaning that any pronoun may be singular or plural. If number need be specified, it can be added as a [[modifier]], such as {{tp|mi [[wan]]}} ('I'), {{tp|mi [[tu]]}} ('us two'), {{tp|mi [[mute]]}} ('we'),<ref group="lower-alpha">Similarly to other content words, {{tp|[[mute]]}} is generally reserved for three or more individuals. If "we" refers to two people it is more common to use {{tp|mi tu}} or just {{tp|mi}} instead of {{tp|mi mute}}.</ref> and {{tp|mi [[ale]]}} ('we all'). |
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Pronouns are generally unmarked for [[number]]. They can be either singular or plural: |
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{{Example |
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| mi |
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| I/me<br/>we/us |
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{{Example |
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| sina |
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| you<br/>you (plural) |
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{{Example |
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| ona |
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| it, she/her, he/him, singular they/them<br/>they/them |
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}} |
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If number must be specified, it can be added as a [[modifier]]: |
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{| |
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|{{Example|mi [[wan]]|I}} |
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|{{Example|mi [[tu]]|us two}} |
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| ⚫ | |||
|{{Example|mi [[ale]]|we all}} |
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|} |
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==Possessives== |
==Possessives== |
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When used as modifiers, personal pronouns almost always imply possession: |
When used as modifiers, personal pronouns almost always imply possession: |
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{{Example|ijo < |
{{Example|ijo <mark>mi</mark>|<mark>my</mark> stuff<br /><mark>our</mark> stuff}} |
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{{Example|ijo < |
{{Example|ijo <mark>sina</mark>|<mark>your</mark> stuff}} |
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{{Example|ijo < |
{{Example|ijo <mark>ona</mark>|<mark>their</mark> stuff}} |
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==Distinction== |
==Distinction== |
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Pronouns are not marked for |
Pronouns are not marked for [[gender]]. One can narrow down the referent of a pronoun by using any quality as a modifier. |
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{{Example|ona jelo|the yellow one(s) of them}} |
{{Example|ona jelo|the yellow one(s) of them}} |
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{{Example|sina suli o!|Hey, the tall one(s) of you!}} |
{{Example|sina suli o!|Hey, the tall one(s) of you!|sina suli o}} |
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=={{tp|li}} dropping== |
=={{tp|li}} dropping== |
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{{Main|mi li and sina li}} |
{{Main|mi li and sina li}} |
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If the [[subject]] of a [[sentence]] is only {{tp|mi}} or only {{tp|sina}}, the particle {{tp|[[li]]}}, |
If the [[subject]] of a [[sentence]] is only {{tp|mi}} or only {{tp|sina}}, then the particle {{tp|[[li]]}}, which would usually follow it, is dropped. |
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{{Example|mi pona. ijo mi < |
{{Example|mi pona. ijo mi <mark>li</mark> pona.}} |
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{{Example|sina pona. sina kin < |
{{Example|sina pona. sina kin <mark>li</mark> pona.}} |
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{{Example|mi en sina < |
{{Example|mi en sina <mark>li</mark> pona.}} |
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{{Example|ona < |
{{Example|ona <mark>li</mark> pona.}} |
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=={{tp|sitelen pona}}== |
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The {{tp|[[sitelen pona]]}} glyphs for {{tp|mi}} ({{UCSUR char|{{codepoint|mi}}}}), {{tp|sina}} ({{UCSUR char|{{codepoint|sina}}}}), and {{tp|ona}} ({{UCSUR char|{{codepoint|ona}}}}) are composed of a circle and a stem line originating from it, possibly representing hands pointing at the direction of the person. These may be drawn with either a straight or curved stem. Rarely, these may also be drawn mirrored as of the standard versions. |
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==Other pronouns== |
==Other pronouns== |
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{{Hatnote|See also: [[ona vs. ni|{{tp|ona}} vs. {{tp|ni}}]]}} |
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Apart from personal pronouns, the words {{tp|[[ni]]}} ("this, that") and {{tp|[[seme]]}} ("what") also are {{w|pronoun}}s, as they stand in for a content word or [[phrase]]. |
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===Nonstandard personal pronouns=== |
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{{nimi |
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| iki |
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| PoS = content word |
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}} |
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In 2001, when Toki Pona was first published, the word '''{{tp|iki}}''' was as a third-person pronoun used instead of {{tp|ona}}. The word was derived from {{w|Georgian language|Georgian}} {{lang|ka|იბი}} (''igi'').<ref name="etym"/> In March 2002, a poll was created in the Yahoo group asking whether {{tp|iki}} should be changed as it was "too long and too similar to {{tp|ike}}".<ref>Unknown author (24 March 2002). [http://forums.tokipona.org/viewtopic.php?t=1 New poll for tokipona]. ''Toki Pona Forums''.</ref> The proposals for replacing {{tp|iki}} included '''{{tp|i}}''' and '''{{tp|ipi}}'''. |
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In a second poll in May 2002,<ref>Unknown author (15 May 2002). [http://forums.tokipona.org/viewtopic.php?t=1#p51 New poll for tokipona]. ''Toki Pona Forums''.</ref> it was decided to change {{tp|iki}} to {{tp|ona}}.<ref>Unknown author (21 May 2002). [http://forums.tokipona.org/viewtopic.php?p=55#p55 Poll results for tokipona]. ''Toki Pona Forums''.</ref> |
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While these nonstandard pronouns are sometimes referenced for historical purposes,{{citation needed}} they don't actually see any noticable use beyond that. |
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==Notes== |
==Notes== |
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<references group="lower-alpha"/> |
<references group="lower-alpha" /> |
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==References== |
==References== |
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{{Words}} |
{{Words}} |
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[[Category:Parts of speech]] |
[[Category:Parts of speech]] |
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Latest revision as of 22:45, 4 February 2024
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| Pronunciation | /mi/ |
|---|---|
| Usage | 2023: Core (100% → )2022: Core (100%) |
| Book and era | nimi pu |
| Part of speech | Content word |
| Codepoint | U+F1934 |
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| Pronunciation | /ˈsi |
|---|---|
| Usage | 2023: Core (100% → )2022: Core (100%) |
| Book and era | nimi pu |
| Part of speech | Content word |
| Codepoint | U+F195E |
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| Pronunciation | /ˈo |
|---|---|
| Usage | 2023: Core (100% ↗︎ )2022: Core (99%) |
| Book and era | nimi pu |
| Part of speech | Content word |
| Codepoint | U+F1946 |
The personal pronouns in Toki Pona are mi (first-person), sina (second-person), and ona (third-person). In terms of morphology and syntax, pronouns act the same as any other content word.
Number[edit | edit source]
Pronouns are grammatically unmarked for number, meaning that any pronoun may be singular or plural. If number need be specified, it can be added as a modifier, such as mi wan ('I'), mi tu ('us two'), mi mute ('we'),[a] and mi ale ('we all').
Possessives[edit | edit source]
When used as modifiers, personal pronouns almost always imply possession:
ijo miijo mi
my stuff
our stuff
ijo sinaijo sina
your stuff
ijo onaijo ona
their stuff
Distinction[edit | edit source]
Pronouns are not marked for gender. One can narrow down the referent of a pronoun by using any quality as a modifier.
ona jeloona jelo
the yellow one(s) of them
sina suli osina suli o!
Hey, the tall one(s) of you!
li dropping[edit | edit source]
If the subject of a sentence is only mi or only sina, then the particle li, which would usually follow it, is dropped.
mi pona ijo mi li ponami pona. ijo mi li pona.
sina pona sina kin li ponasina pona. sina kin li pona.
mi en sina li ponami en sina li pona.
ona li ponaona li pona.
sitelen pona[edit | edit source]
The sitelen pona glyphs for mi (), sina (), and ona () are composed of a circle and a stem line originating from it, possibly representing hands pointing at the direction of the person. These may be drawn with either a straight or curved stem. Rarely, these may also be drawn mirrored as of the standard versions.
Other pronouns[edit | edit source]
Apart from personal pronouns, the words ni ("this, that") and seme ("what") also are pronouns, as they stand in for a content word or phrase.