Profanity: Difference between revisions
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'''Profanity''' is the use of offensive or obscene words for a variety of purposes, often to express strong emotions, as a grammatical intensifier, or to express informality. While Toki Pona does not have any defined profanity, many words in Toki Pona are sometimes translated to other languages as profanity. |
'''Profanity''' is the use of offensive or obscene words for a variety of purposes, often to express strong emotions, as a grammatical intensifier, or to express informality. While Toki Pona does not have any defined profanity, many words in Toki Pona are sometimes translated to other languages as profanity. |
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==Insults== |
==Insults== |
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Insults, or to speak in a way that causes disrespect of abuse, often makes use of profanity. Insults often happen by portraying something unfairly, voicing aggression or intent to harm towards them, breaking their trust, making accusations, lying, talking over them, or being dismissive. There is no go-to insult in Toki Pona, although a multitude of insulting phrases can be to be created on the spot. |
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==Exclamations== |
==Exclamations== |
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Quick [[Interjections|exclamations]] to let off steam are made up on the spot, fitting the situation. |
Quick [[Interjections|exclamations]] to let off steam are made up on the spot, fitting the situation. Common examples include: |
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* {{tp|ike}} — when something generally bad happens |
* {{tp|ike}} — used when something generally bad happens |
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* {{tp|jaki}} — when something displeasant happens |
* {{tp|jaki}} — used when something displeasant happens |
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* {{tp|pakala}} — when something doesn't go as planned or breaks |
* {{tp|pakala}} — used when something doesn't go as planned or breaks |
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* {{tp|a}} — as a general reaction to anything |
* {{tp|a}} — used as a general reaction to anything |
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* {{tp|mu}} — to voice an unwordable response out of frustration |
* {{tp|mu}} — used to voice an unwordable response out of frustration |
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* {{tp|kala}} — for when your hovercraft is filled with too many eels |
* {{tp|kala}} — for when your hovercraft is filled with too many eels{{citation needed|date=2/22/2024|reason=Personal inexperience with both hovercrafts and anguilliformes}} |
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==Emphasis== |
==Emphasis== |
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Toki Pona makes no significant distinction between an informal and formal register, so idiomatic swearing would not be used for {{w|code-switching}}. |
Toki Pona makes no significant distinction between an informal and formal register, so idiomatic swearing would not be used for {{w|code-switching}}. |
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==In ''Official Toki Pona''== |
==In the ''Official Toki Pona series''== |
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There have been some mentions of profanity in the ''[[Official Toki Pona]]'' series, particularly for the translations in {{ku|en}}. |
There have been some mentions of profanity in the ''[[Official Toki Pona]]'' series, particularly for the translations in {{ku|en}}. |
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Revision as of 15:43, 22 February 2024
Profanity is the use of offensive or obscene words for a variety of purposes, often to express strong emotions, as a grammatical intensifier, or to express informality. While Toki Pona does not have any defined profanity, many words in Toki Pona are sometimes translated to other languages as profanity.
Insults
Insults, or to speak in a way that causes disrespect of abuse, often makes use of profanity. Insults often happen by portraying something unfairly, voicing aggression or intent to harm towards them, breaking their trust, making accusations, lying, talking over them, or being dismissive. There is no go-to insult in Toki Pona, although a multitude of insulting phrases can be to be created on the spot.
Exclamations
Quick exclamations to let off steam are made up on the spot, fitting the situation. Common examples include:
- ike — used when something generally bad happens
- jaki — used when something displeasant happens
- pakala — used when something doesn't go as planned or breaks
- a — used as a general reaction to anything
- mu — used to voice an unwordable response out of frustration
- kala — for when your hovercraft is filled with too many eels[citation needed…]
Emphasis
Instead of adding words associated with negative qualities, the word a covers most cases of emphasis. In specific cases, mute, wawa, suli, and sometimes also namako and kin get used.
Code-switching
Toki Pona makes no significant distinction between an informal and formal register, so idiomatic swearing would not be used for code-switching.
In the Official Toki Pona series
There have been some mentions of profanity in the Official Toki Pona series, particularly for the translations in Toki Pona Dictionary.
jaki
In Toki Pona Dictionary, jaki is translated as "crap" with a frequency score of three (41–60% of participants), and as "shit" and "bullshit" with a frequency of 2 (21–40% of participants)[1]
pakala
In Toki Pona Dictionary, pakala is translated as "damn", "goddamn", and "heck" with a frequency score of four (61–80% of participants), as "fuck" and "fucking" with a frequency of 3 (41–60% of participants), and as "crap" with a frequency of 2 (21–40%).[1]
unpa
In Toki Pona Dictionary, unpa is translated as "fucking" with a frequency of 3 (41–60% of participants), and "fuck" with a frequency of 2 (21-40%).[1] However, this also covers the literal, non-taboo sense of "fuck" to mean "sex"; using unpa as a profane exclamation is widely considered a calque.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Lang, Sonja. (18 July 2021). Toki Pona Dictionary. Illustrated by Vacon Sartirani. Tawhid. ISBN 978-0978292362.