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A [[Questions|question]] is a [[Glossary#sentence|sentence]] that solicits some information from the listener. There are three main ways to form questions in toki pona.
A '''question''' is a [[sentence]] that asks for information. There are 3 main ways to form questions in [[Toki Pona]].


== Forms of questions in toki pona ==
==Yes–no questions==


=== '''verb''' ''ala'' '''verb''' ===
===X {{tp|ala}} X===
{{Wikipedia|A-not-A question}}
To form a yes-or-no question, repeat the main word of the predicate, and add the word [[ala]] between the repetitions.
The main way to form a {{w|yes–no question}} is by repeating the main word in the predicate, with the word {{tp|[[ala]]}} ("not") between the repetitions. This is called an {{w|A-not-A question}} and occurs in natural languages such as in the {{w|Sinitic languages}} and {{w|Korean language|Korean}}.


{{Example
; sina moku ala moku? : Do you eat?
|sina moku ala moku?
; ona li pona ala pona tawa sina? : Are they good to you?
|Do you eat? ({{lit|you eat not/eat?}})
|sina moku ala moku
}}
{{Example
|ona li pona ala pona tawa sina?
|Are they good to you? ({{lit|they are good not/good to you?}})
|ona li pona ala pona tawa sina
}}


In {{tp|[[sitelen pona]]}}, {{tp|ala}} is sometimes used as an [[extended glyph]] {{sp|1={<span style="opacity:0.5;">ijo</span>}ala(<span style="opacity:0.5;">ijo</span>)}} that continues below the repeated word:
=== ''anu'' ===
The [[Category:Particles|particle]] [[anu]] can be used to ask question about alternatives. See the [[anu|article on anu]] for more details.


{{Example
; ona li lukin e waso anu soweli? : ona li lukin e waso.
|ona li pona ala pona tawa sina?
|
|ona li {pona}ala(pona) tawa sina
}}


==== ''anu seme'' ====
==={{tp|anu seme}}===
{{Wikipedia|tag question}}
The form ''anu seme'' asks a "tag question," prompting an answer for ''confirmation'', and expecting the answer to be "yes". [[Sonja Lang]] introduced this form in a forum post on 2003-02-12:
The phrase {{tp|anu seme}} ("or what") marks a {{wp|tag question}}, added to the end of a statement to make it a question. This expects the answer to be "yes", and prompts for confirmation. The English equivalent is taking a statement like "It's snowing." and adding a tag, like "It's snowing, isn't it?" or "It's snowing, right?"

{{tok|[[jan Sonja]]}} proposed this in a forum post from 2003:<ref name="lang2003">Lang, Sonja (12 February 2003). [//forums.tokipona.org/viewtopic.php?f=33&t=112 New question type]. ''Toki Pona Forums''. Retrieved 16 October 2023.</ref>


<blockquote>
<blockquote>
; sina kama anu seme?
{{tok|sina kama anu seme?}}<br/>
: (literally: you're coming or what?)
(literally: you're coming or what?)<br/>
: I think you're coming, but please correct me and tell me what is really happening.
I think you're coming, but please correct me and tell me what is really happening.<br/>
aren't you coming?
: aren't you coming?<ref name=newquestiontype>[http://forums.tokipona.org/viewtopic.php?f=33&t=112 New question type]</ref>
</blockquote>
</blockquote>


According to Sonja, this structure is parallel to "the way 'oder' can be used in colloquial German."<ref name=newquestiontype /> In German, "oder" at the end of a sentence is used to form a tag question, <ref>[https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/oder#Particle Wiktionary]</ref> which "may suggest confidence or lack of confidence, or may be confrontational, defensive, tentative, or rhetorical (not expecting an answer)."<ref>[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tag_question#Uses Wikipedia]</ref> In toki pona, ''anu seme'' is typically used in all of these ways and is extremely common in speech.
According to her, this structure is parallel to "the way '{{lang|de|oder}}' can be used in colloquial German."<ref name="lang2003"/> In German, the particle ''{{lang|de|{{wikt|oder}}}}'' placed at the end of a sentence marks a tag question, which "may suggest confidence or lack of confidence, or may be confrontational, defensive, tentative, or rhetorical (not expecting an answer)".<ref>{{w|Tag questions|"Tag questions"}}. In ''Wikipedia''. Retrieved 16 October 2023.</ref> In Toki Pona, {{tp|anu seme}} is typically used in all of these ways and is extremely common in speech.


=== ''seme'' ===
==General questions==
==={{tp|seme}}===
The [[Particles|particle]] [[seme]] can be used to form general questions. It replaces the word in the sentence the speaker wants information about.
The particle {{tp|[[seme]]}} means "what?" or "which?" and is used to form general questions. It replaces the word in the sentence that the speaker wants information about.
{{Example
|sina moku e seme?
|What are you eating? ({{lit|you eat what?}})
|sina moku e seme
}}
{{Example
|sina seme e kili?
|What do you do with the fruit? ({{lit|you what the fruit?}})
|sina seme e kili
}}
{{Example
|seme li moku e kili?
|Who/What is eating the fruit?
|seme li moku e kili
}}


{{tp|seme}} can also [[modifier|modify]] other words.
; sina moku e seme? : What are you eating?
{{Example
; sina seme e kili? : What do you do with the fruit?
; seme li moku e kili? : Who/What is eating the fruit?
|jan seme li moku e kili?
|Who (what person) eats the fruit?
|jan-seme li moku e kili
}}
{{Example
|jan li moku seme e kili?
|How is the person eating the fruit?
|jan li moku seme e kili
}}
{{Example
|jan li moku e kili seme?
|Which fruit / What kind of fruit is the person eating?
|jan li moku e kili seme
}}


==={{tp|anu}}===
The word [[seme]] can also [[Glossary#modifier|modify]] other words.
{{Main|anu}}
{{Start section|Nonstandard}}
{{nasin pu}}
{{pu|en}} suggests that the [[particle]] {{tp|[[anu]]}} alone can be used to ask a question about alternatives. This was widespread in [[pre-pu]] Toki Pona, but it is controversial nowadays, as some speakers consider this construction nonstandard.{{Citation needed}}


{{Example
; jan seme li moku e kili? : Who (what person) eats the fruit?
|ona li lukin e waso anu soweli? &mdash; ona li lukin e waso.
; jan li moku seme e kili? : How is the person eating the fruit?
|They see a bird or an animal? [controversial] &mdash; They see a bird.
; jan li moku e kili seme? : What kind of fruit is the person eating?
|te ona li lukin e waso anu soweli to {{idsp}} te ona li lukin e waso to
}}


One way to rephrase this uses {{tp|[[la]]}}:
== Answering questions in toki pona ==
=== yes-or-no ===
A positive answer to a yes-or-no question can be given by repeating the word asked about:


{{Example
; akesi li suwi ala suwi? : suwi.
|waso anu soweli la ona li lukin e seme? &mdash; ona li lukin e waso.
; Are lizards cute? : Yes.
|As for a bird or an animal, what do they see? &mdash; They see a bird.
|te waso anu soweli la ona li lukin e seme to {{idsp}} te ona li lukin e waso to
}}
{{End section}}


==Answers==
To say no, repeat the word asked about followed by [[ala]], or use the word [[ala]] on its own.


===Yes&ndash;no questions===
; sina wile ala wile moku e pipi?
{{Wikipedia|echo answer}}
: wile ala.
A positive answer to a yes&ndash;no question can be given by repeating the word asked about. This is called an {{wp|echo answer}}.
: ala.
; Do you want to eat bugs? : No.


{{Example
=== General questions ===
|akesi li suwi ala suwi? &mdash; suwi.
A question asked with [[#seme|''seme'']] can be answered with a [[Glossary#sentence|sentence]] providing the information that was asked for.
|Are lizards cute? &mdash; Yes. ({{lit|cute}})
|te akesi li suwi ala suwi to {{idsp}} te suwi to
}}


{{nasin ku}}
; ona li pali e seme? : What are they doing?
Some speakers use {{tp|[[lon]]}} as a confirmation ("yes") or "true". The {{ku|en}} acknowledges this usage.<ref>{{cite ku|7}}</ref>
; ona li kepeken ilo. : They are using a tool.


{{Example
== History ==
|akesi li suwi anu seme? &mdash; lon.
=== Yes-or-No questions ===
|Are lizards cute? &mdash; Yes. ({{lit|true}})
Though in theory the X-''ala''-X structure of toki pona questions could be used to ask about any part of the sentence, in [[pu]] it is only used for the head of a predicate and this use has become standard in the period since.
|te akesi li suwi anu seme to {{idsp}} te lon to
}}


Other speakers find this use of {{tp|lon}} improper, at least in certain situations, equivalent to saying "So true!" instead of an actual confirmation.
The original toki pona lessons from 2001<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20090828022821/http://bknight0.myweb.uga.edu/toki/about/lesson/tp8.html toki pona Yes-or-No Questions]</ref> include these examples, which may seem strange to modern readers:


To say no, repeat the word asked about, followed by {{tp|[[ala]]}}:
<blockquote>
;meli ala meli li lawa e ma ni?
:A woman / not a woman rules that country?
:Does a woman rule that country?


{{Example
;iki li jan pona sina ala jan pona sina?
|sina wile ala wile moku e pipi? &mdash; wile ala.
:She not-your friend / your friend?
|Do you want to eat bugs? &mdash; No. ({{lit|do not want}})
:Is she your friend?
|te sina wile ala wile moku e pipi to {{idsp}} te wile ala to
</blockquote>
}}

Or use the word {{tp|ala}} on its own:

{{Example
|sina wile ala wile moku e pipi? &mdash; ala.
|Do you want to eat bugs? &mdash; No. ({{lit|not.}})
|te sina wile ala wile moku e pipi to {{idsp}} te ala to
}}

===General questions===
A question asked with {{tp|seme}} can be answered with a [[sentence]] providing the information that was asked for.

{{Example
|ona li seme? &mdash; ona li kepeken ilo.
|What are they doing? &mdash; They are using a tool.
|te ona li seme to {{idsp}} te ona li kepeken ilo to
}}

==History==
{{Start section|Historical}}
===Yes&ndash;no questions===
Despite the X–{{tok|ala}}–X structure could theoretically be used to ask about any part of the sentence, in {{pu}}, it is only used for the head of a predicate. This limitation has become standard in the period since. The main exception is using a [[preverb]] instead of the main verb.

One of the very oldest Toki Pona lessons from 2001,<ref name="pije8">{{tok|jan Pije}}. [//web.archive.org/web/20090828022821/http://bknight0.myweb.uga.edu/toki/about/lesson/tp8.html Lesson Eight]. Archived from the original on 28 August 2009. {{tp|lipu pi jan Pije}}.</ref> includes these examples, which may seem strange to modern readers:
{{Example
|meli ala meli li lawa e ma ni?
|Does a woman rule that country? ({{lit|A woman / not a woman rules that country?}})
|meli ala meli li lawa e ma ni
}}
{{Example
|iki<ref group="lower-alpha">Archaic form of the pronoun {{tp|[[ona]]}}.</ref> li jan pona sina ala jan pona sina?
|Is she your friend? ({{lit|She your friend / not your friend?}})
|sp=no
}}

By 2005, the form was restricted to the head of a predicate<ref name="pije8"/>, and the same form is used in {{tp|pu}}.<ref name="pu7">{{cite pu}} Lesson 7.</ref> As of 2023, the form [[#anu seme|{{tp|anu seme}}]] is used for questions about the subject or object of a sentence.

==={{tp|anu seme}}===
In 2005, the {{tp|anu seme}} form was still a tag question.<ref>{{tok|jan Pije}}. [//web.archive.org/web/20050209035415/http://tokipona.nytka.org/lesson/lesson12.html Lesson 12]. Archived from the original on 9 February 2005. {{tp|lipu pi jan Pije}}.</ref> In {{tp|pu}}, however, the form is described as identical to the A-{{tp|ala}}-A form and is presented as a synonymous alternative.<ref name="pu7"/> As of 2023, the {{tp|anu seme}} form is still used as a tag question, though the question of whether {{tp|pu}}'s synonymous style was ever widely used is still unanswered. An avenue for future research.
{{End section}}

==See also==
* [[Yes]]


==Notes==
[[iki]] is an archaic form of the pronoun [[ona]]. By 2005, the form was restricted to the head of a predicate,<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20050209040639/http://tokipona.nytka.org/lesson/lesson8.html jan Pije Lesson 8]</ref> and the same form is used in [[pu]].<ref>[[pu]] Lesson 7</ref> As of 2023, the form [[#''anu seme''|''anu seme'']] is used for questions about the subject or object of a sentence.
<references group="lower-alpha"/>


==References==
=== ''anu seme'' ===
<references/>
In 2005, the ''anu seme'' form was still a tag question.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20050209035415/http://tokipona.nytka.org/lesson/lesson12.html jan Pije Lesson 12 (original)]</ref> In [[pu]], however, the form is described as identical to the X-''ala''-X form and is presented as a synonymous alternative.<ref>[[pu]] Lesson 7</ref> As of 2023, the ''anu seme'' form is still used as a tag question, though the question of whether pu's synonymous style was ever widely used is still unanswered. An avenue for future research.


== References ==
==Further reading==
<references />


===Resources===
== External resources ==
* [[pu]] Lesson 7
* {{pu|en}}: Lesson 7
* {{tok|jan Kekan San}}: [//mun.la/sona/seme.html Asking and Answering Questions]
* [https://sowelitesa.kittycat.homes/lipu-sona/11 soweli Tesa Lesson 11]
* [https://lipu-sona.pona.la/7.html jan Lentan Page 7]
* {{tok|jan Lentan}}: [//lipu-sona.pona.la/7.html Lesson 7]
* [https://jonathangabel.com/toki-pona/questions-1/ sitelen sitelen Yes/No questions]
* {{tok|soweli Tesa}}: [https://lipu-sona.kittycat.homes/en/questions Lesson 11]
* {{tp|nasin toki pona}}: [//github.com/kilipan/nasin-toki#questions questions]
* [https://jonathangabel.com/toki-pona/questions-2/ sitelen sitelen Questions using seme]
* Jonathan Gabel: [//jonathangabel.com/toki-pona/questions-1/ Yes/No questions]
* [https://htmlpreview.github.io/?https://raw.githubusercontent.com/jan-Lope/Toki_Pona_lessons_English/gh-pages/toki-pona-lessons_en/index.html#SECTION002130000000000000000 jan Lope Questions]
* [https://github.com/kilipan/nasin-toki#questions kili pan questions]
* Jonathan Gabel: [//jonathangabel.com/toki-pona/questions-2/ Questions using {{tp|seme}}]

Latest revision as of 06:40, 18 April 2024

A question is a sentence that asks for information. There are 3 main ways to form questions in Toki Pona.

Yes–no questions[edit | edit source]

X ala X[edit | edit source]

English Wikipedia has an article on
A-not-A question.

The main way to form a yes–no question is by repeating the main word in the predicate, with the word ala ("not") between the repetitions. This is called an A-not-A question and occurs in natural languages such as in the Sinitic languages and Korean.

sina moku ala moku

sina moku ala moku?

Do you eat? (lit. 'you eat not/eat?')

ona li pona ala pona tawa sina

ona li pona ala pona tawa sina?

Are they good to you? (lit. 'they are good not/good to you?')

In sitelen pona, ala is sometimes used as an extended glyph {ijo}ala(ijo) that continues below the repeated word:

ona li {pona}ala(pona) tawa sina

ona li pona ala pona tawa sina?

anu seme[edit | edit source]

English Wikipedia has an article on
tag question.

The phrase anu seme ("or what") marks a tag question, added to the end of a statement to make it a question. This expects the answer to be "yes", and prompts for confirmation. The English equivalent is taking a statement like "It's snowing." and adding a tag, like "It's snowing, isn't it?" or "It's snowing, right?"

jan Sonja proposed this in a forum post from 2003:[1]

sina kama anu seme?
(literally: you're coming or what?)
I think you're coming, but please correct me and tell me what is really happening.
aren't you coming?

According to her, this structure is parallel to "the way 'oder' can be used in colloquial German."[1] In German, the particle oder placed at the end of a sentence marks a tag question, which "may suggest confidence or lack of confidence, or may be confrontational, defensive, tentative, or rhetorical (not expecting an answer)".[2] In Toki Pona, anu seme is typically used in all of these ways and is extremely common in speech.

General questions[edit | edit source]

seme[edit | edit source]

The particle seme means "what?" or "which?" and is used to form general questions. It replaces the word in the sentence that the speaker wants information about.

sina moku e seme

sina moku e seme?

What are you eating? (lit. 'you eat what?')

sina seme e kili

sina seme e kili?

What do you do with the fruit? (lit. 'you what the fruit?')

seme li moku e kili

seme li moku e kili?

Who/What is eating the fruit?

seme can also modify other words.

jan-seme li moku e kili

jan seme li moku e kili?

Who (what person) eats the fruit?

jan li moku seme e kili

jan li moku seme e kili?

How is the person eating the fruit?

jan li moku e kili seme

jan li moku e kili seme?

Which fruit / What kind of fruit is the person eating?

anu[edit | edit source]

Main article: anu
Caution: The subject of this section is nonstandard and will not be understood by most speakers.
If you are a learner, this information will not help you speak the language. It is recommended to familiarize yourself with the standard style, and to be informed and selective about which nonstandard styles you adopt.
This subject or style relates to Toki Pona: The Language of Good.

Toki Pona: The Language of Good suggests that the particle anu alone can be used to ask a question about alternatives. This was widespread in pre-pu Toki Pona, but it is controversial nowadays, as some speakers consider this construction nonstandard.[citation needed]

te ona li lukin e waso anu soweli to 　 te ona li lukin e waso to

ona li lukin e waso anu soweli? — ona li lukin e waso.

They see a bird or an animal? [controversial] — They see a bird.

One way to rephrase this uses la:

te waso anu soweli la ona li lukin e seme to 　 te ona li lukin e waso to

waso anu soweli la ona li lukin e seme? — ona li lukin e waso.

As for a bird or an animal, what do they see? — They see a bird.

Answers[edit | edit source]

Yes–no questions[edit | edit source]

English Wikipedia has an article on
echo answer.

A positive answer to a yes–no question can be given by repeating the word asked about. This is called an echo answer.

te akesi li suwi ala suwi to 　 te suwi to

akesi li suwi ala suwi? — suwi.

Are lizards cute? — Yes. (lit. 'cute')

This subject or style relates to Toki Pona Dictionary.

Some speakers use lon as a confirmation ("yes") or "true". The Toki Pona Dictionary acknowledges this usage.[3]

te akesi li suwi anu seme to 　 te lon to

akesi li suwi anu seme? — lon.

Are lizards cute? — Yes. (lit. 'true')

Other speakers find this use of lon improper, at least in certain situations, equivalent to saying "So true!" instead of an actual confirmation.

To say no, repeat the word asked about, followed by ala:

te sina wile ala wile moku e pipi to 　 te wile ala to

sina wile ala wile moku e pipi? — wile ala.

Do you want to eat bugs? — No. (lit. 'do not want')

Or use the word ala on its own:

te sina wile ala wile moku e pipi to 　 te ala to

sina wile ala wile moku e pipi? — ala.

Do you want to eat bugs? — No. (lit. 'not.')

General questions[edit | edit source]

A question asked with seme can be answered with a sentence providing the information that was asked for.

te ona li seme to 　 te ona li kepeken ilo to

ona li seme? — ona li kepeken ilo.

What are they doing? — They are using a tool.

History[edit | edit source]

Caution: The subject of this section is historical information that is presented for completeness, and might not reflect current usage.

Yes–no questions[edit | edit source]

Despite the X–ala–X structure could theoretically be used to ask about any part of the sentence, in pu, it is only used for the head of a predicate. This limitation has become standard in the period since. The main exception is using a preverb instead of the main verb.

One of the very oldest Toki Pona lessons from 2001,[4] includes these examples, which may seem strange to modern readers:

meli ala meli li lawa e ma ni

meli ala meli li lawa e ma ni?

Does a woman rule that country? (lit. 'A woman / not a woman rules that country?')

iki[a] li jan pona sina ala jan pona sina?

Is she your friend? (lit. 'She your friend / not your friend?')

By 2005, the form was restricted to the head of a predicate[4], and the same form is used in pu.[5] As of 2023, the form anu seme is used for questions about the subject or object of a sentence.

anu seme[edit | edit source]

In 2005, the anu seme form was still a tag question.[6] In pu, however, the form is described as identical to the A-ala-A form and is presented as a synonymous alternative.[5] As of 2023, the anu seme form is still used as a tag question, though the question of whether pu's synonymous style was ever widely used is still unanswered. An avenue for future research.

See also[edit | edit source]

Notes[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ Archaic form of the pronoun ona.

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Lang, Sonja (12 February 2003). New question type. Toki Pona Forums. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
  2. ↑ "Tag questions". In Wikipedia. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
  3. ↑ Lang, Sonja. (18 July 2021). Toki Pona Dictionary. Illustrated by Vacon Sartirani. Tawhid. ISBN 978-0978292362. p. 7.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 jan Pije. Lesson Eight. Archived from the original on 28 August 2009. lipu pi jan Pije.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Lang, Sonja. (25 May 2014). Toki Pona: The Language of Good. Tawhid. ISBN 978-0978292300. OCLC 921253340. Lesson 7.
  6. ↑ jan Pije. Lesson 12. Archived from the original on 9 February 2005. lipu pi jan Pije.

Further reading[edit | edit source]

Resources[edit | edit source]

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