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Phatic expressions and social conventions: Difference between revisions
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A '''{{w|phatic expression}}''' is a word or phrase that serves a social function instead of exchanging information. English phatic expressions include "hello", "thank you", and "I'm sorry".
[[Toki Pona]] has very few phatic expressions, and actively tries to avoid them in favor of more explicit and context-specific expressions. Because phatic phrases are automatic, not only would they be a form of [[lexicalization]], but they would ring hollow. Instead, experimentation is encouraged.
==Politeness==
Toki Pona is often described as "polite by default", because it has no modes of speech that automatically relay politeness. But a better description is that it's <em>sincere</em> by default. Speakers are expected to say what they mean and mean what they say. Being direct, clear, and sincere <em>is</em> what constitutes polite speech. Toki Pona is already vague, and when that's combined with phrases that talk <em>around</em> an idea rather than describe it honestly, it can cause confusion. Indirect or euphemistic speech becomes even more unclear.
==Specific
===Greeting===
An interjection often used for greeting is {{tp|toki}}. This works especially well to begin a conversation. However, other phrases and sentences may work as well or better in different circumstances. Here are some examples:
{|class="wikitable" style="background:transparent;"
!Situation
!Possible phrase
|-
|{{Example|mi lon!|I exist!|mi lon}}
|-
|Reacting to someone joining
|{{Example|sina lon!|You exist!|sina lon}}
|-
|Signaling your presence
|rowspan="2"|{{Example|mu!|3=mu}}
|-
|When other people go {{tp|mu}}
|-
|rowspan="2"|Getting people's attention
|{{Example|sina o!|Hey you!|sina o}}
|-
|{{Example|[[Names|<nowiki>[</nowiki>''name''<nowiki>]</nowiki>]] o!|Hey [''name'']! (if known)|3=<span style="opacity:0.5;">ijo [ijo]</span>o}}
|-
|colspan="2"|No situation <em>requires</em> a greeting, so just jumping into the conversation is valid.
|}
In practice, greetings tend to not be about the time of the day.
A good conversation starter is {{tp|sina seme?}}. This works for "who are you?", "how are you?", "what are you doing?", "what have you been up to?", and more. Unlike in English, where you must reply to "how are you?" with "fine" even if you aren't fine, {{tp|sina seme?}} is meant literally. Expect a real, detailed answer if you use it, and feel free to give one if you are asked.
===Parting===
When you are leaving a conversation, you can indicate this by describing what you are doing that will stop you from talking further. Some examples:
{|class="wikitable" style="background:transparent;"
!Situation
!Possible phrase
|-
|Leaving for somewhere else
|{{Example|mi tawa!|I go!|mi tawa}}
|-
|Taking a break or going to bed
|{{Example|mi lape!|I sleep!|mi lape}}
|-
|Beginning or resuming work
|{{Example|mi pali!|I work!|mi pali}}
|-
|Noticing that you should be getting food
|{{Example|mi o moku!|I should eat!|mi o moku}}
|-
|When your game starts
|{{Example|musi mi li open!|My game started!|musi mi li open}}
|-
|colspan="2"|You can also just depart.
|}
Often, others will respond to this indication with a related well-wishing—{{tp|tawa pona}}, {{tp|lape pona}}, etc.—or with a general one.
===Well-wishing===
Wishes can generally be formulated with {{tp|[[o]]}}. They can also be expressed through a sentence fragment, often by adding {{tp|pona}} at the end of a phrase.
{|class="wikitable" style="background:transparent;"
!Situation
!colspan="3"|Possible phrases
|-
|Responding to {{tp|mi tawa}}
|{{Example|o tawa pona!|Go well!|o tawa pona}}
|{{Example|tawa pona!|Bon voyage!|tawa pona}}
|-
|Responding to {{tp|mi lape}}
|{{Example|o lape pona!|Sleep well!|o lape pona}}
|{{Example|lape pona!|Good sleep!|lape pona}}
|-
|Responding to {{tp|mi o moku}}
|{{Example|o moku e moku pona!|Eat good food!|o moku e moku pona}}
|{{Example|o moku pona!|Eat well!|o moku pona}}
|{{Example|moku pona!|Happy eating!|moku pona}}
|}
===Gratitude and compliments===
Often, the best way to express gratitude is by literally stating what you are thankful for. For example:
{|class="wikitable" style="background:transparent;"
!Situation
!Possible phrase
|-
|For someone's teaching
|{{Example|sina pona tan pana sona.|You are good because of giving of knowledge.}}
|-
|That someone gave a present
|{{Example|sina pana e ijo pona la sina pona.|You gave something good so you are good.}}
|}
A useful mindset to employ here is [//fearofletterwriting.tumblr.com/post/130404141351/specific-positivity specific positive feedback]. Vague praise is easily doubted or deflected as a platitude. You can give specific details to convince the other person that they are worthy of your compliment.
There are some common short phrases that can roughly correspond to "thanks". These include {{tp|pona}}, {{tp|sina pona}}, and {{tp|pona tawa sina}}. Respectively, these mean "good", "you are good", and "goodness to you" (similar to "peace be with you").
===
In English, "sorry" is used for multiple social functions. You can use it to apologize, but also to express sympathy with someone else's misfortune. Toki Pona has nothing that combines these meanings. Instead, you would express the idea more directly.
====Expressing sympathy====
{{Empty}}
====Apologizing for small or insignificant errors====
A common way is to recognize or mention your mistake, such as:
{{Example|pakala mi!|My mistake! / My bad!|pakala mi}}
{{Example|a, mi pakala!|Oh, I messed up!|a mi pakala}}
You can emphasize this by specifying what your mistake was:
{{Example|a, jan pona mi o, mi pakala (tan) ni: [''reason'']. pona o tawa sina.|Oh, my friend, I made this mistake / messed up because of this: [reason]. May goodness go to you.|3=a jan-pona mi o{{idsp}}mi pakala<span style="opacity:0.5;">tan</span>ni{{idsp}}<span style="opacity:0.5;">ijo</span>{{idsp}}pona o tawa sina}}
===="True" apologies====
Some errors are not as insignificant and warrant a more detailed apology. In general, a more detailed apology should tell someone:
* What it is that you did wrong
* That you understand it was wrong
* What you will do in the future
Although your friend may not forgive you entirely, apologies are a good step in the right direction towards healing.
=={{tp|pu}} phrase book==
{{Hatnote|"{{tp|mi kama sona e toki pona}}" redirects here. For help learning Toki Pona, see [[Learning resources]].}}
{{Official Toki Pona}}
{{nasin pu}}
{{Source|Toki Pona: The Language of Good/Phrase Book|''Toki Pona: The Language of Good'' {{sect}} Phrase Book}}
{{pu|en}} includes a "Phrase Book" section with some possible expressions for quick reference.<ref>{{cite pu|124}}</ref> The following copy also includes the phrases written in {{tp|[[sitelen pona]]}}, as they are often encountered in custom emojis and the like.
{|class="wikitable" style="background: transparent; font-family:'Gentium Plus', 'Gentium Basic', Gentium, sans-serif;"
|- style="font-family: sans-serif;"
!colspan="2"|{{tp|toki pona}}
!rowspan="2"|English
|- style="font-family: sans-serif;"
!{{tp|[[sitelen Lasina]]}}
!{{tp|[[sitelen pona]]}}
|-
|{{tp|toki}}
|{{sp|toki}}
|hello!
|-
|{{tp|pona}}
|{{sp|pona}}
|great, thanks, OK
|-
|{{tp|pona tawa sina}}
|{{sp|pona tawa sina}}
|peace be with you
|-
|{{tp|mi tawa}}
|{{sp|mi tawa}}
|bye (said by person leaving)
|-
|{{tp|tawa pona}}
|{{sp|tawa pona}}
|bye (said by person staying)
|-
|{{tp|mi wile (e ni)}}
|{{sp|1=mi wile <span style="opacity:0.5;">e ni</span>}}
|please, I would like
|-
|{{tp|ale li pona}}
|{{sp|ale li pona}}
|all is well, life is good, don’t worry
|-
|{{tp|ike a}}
|{{sp|ike a}}
|oh dear, oh my
|-
|{{tp|lape pona}}
|{{sp|lape pona}}
|good night
|-
|{{tp|kama pona}}
|{{sp|kama pona}}
|welcome
|-
|{{tp|moku pona}}
|{{sp|moku pona}}
|enjoy your meal
|-
|{{tp|seme li sin?}}
|{{sp|seme li sin}}
|what's new?
|-
|{{tp|sina pilin seme?}}
|{{sp|sina pilin-seme|font="linja lipamanka"}}
|how are you feeling?
|-
|{{tp|a a a!}}
|{{sp|a a a}}
|ha ha ha!
|-
|{{tp|mi kama sona e toki pona}}
|{{sp|mi kama sona e toki-pona}}
|I’m learning Toki Pona
|-
|{{tp|sina pona}}
|{{sp|sina pona}}
|you’re cool, I like you<span style="font-family: sans-serif;"><ref group="lower-alpha">The Esperanto edition of {{tp|pu}} has a footnote that translates to:<blockquote>Note from the translator: {{tp|sina pona}} is also often used to say "thank you", nowadays (in 2022) somewhat more often than just {{tp|pona}}.</blockquote></ref></span>
|-
|{{tp|mi olin e sina}}
|{{sp|mi olin e sina}}
|I love you
|-
|{{tp|tomo telo li lon seme?}}
|{{sp|tomo-telo li lon seme|font="linja lipamanka"}}
|where is the washroom?
|}
==Notes==
<references group="lower-alpha" />
==References==
<references />
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