a: Difference between revisions
Added info to cover a broader range of styles, and added some historical info
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==Function==
{{tp|a}} is used to
{{Example
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{{Example
|ni li musi <mark>a</mark>
|This is <mark>so</mark> fun!
|ni li musi <mark>a
}}
When {{tp|a}} is reduplicated, it is used to express laughter.▼
{{Example▼
|a a a!▼
|Hahaha!▼
|a a a▼
}}▼
===Marking emphasis===
The word {{tp|a}} can be used either at the end of a sentence, adding emphasis (or emotion) to the entire sentence, or after a specific word or phrase to emphasize only that part of the sentence. When used at the end to emphasize the entire sentence, it can be seen as similar to using an {{w|exclamation mark}} in English.
Here are examples of {{tp|a}} adding emphasis to different parts of the same sentence:
{{Example
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{{Example
|ona li pali e tomo <mark>a</mark>.
|She builds
|ona li pali e tomo <mark>a</mark>
}}
In the final sentence, the {{tp|a}} can also be seen as emphasizing the entire sentence, depending on context. Some people prefer to only use {{tp|a}} at the end of a sentence, and don't make the distinctions in the examples above.
▲When {{tp|a}} is reduplicated, it is used to express laughter.
====Controversy====
▲{{Example
There is no clear community consensus on whether you need to use a {{tp|[[li]]}} when the subject of a sentence is {{tp|mi a}} or {{tp|sina a}}. Some feel that a {{tp|li}} is necessary because {{tp|mi a}} is similar to {{tp|mi kin}} or {{tp|mi taso}}, which both require a {{tp|li}} in standard Toki Pona. Others feel that a {{tp|li}} shouldn't be used, because {{tp|a}} is not a [[content word]]. In practice, both methods are used by different people.
▲|a a a!
▲|Hahaha!
In some cases, people will use {{tp|a}} in a [[pi|{{tp|pi}} phrase]] to emphasize a specific [[modifier]]. (E.g. {{tp|jan pi lili a}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://liputenpo.org/toki/nanpa-jaki/kulupu-kanse-la-jan-meli-li-kama-ken/|title=kulupu Kanse la jan meli li kama ken|lang=tok|website={{tp|lipu tenpo}}|author={{tok|jan Kasape}}|date=2023-05-14|access-date=2023-05-14|quote={{tok|jan li kama unpa li kama jo insa e jan pi lili a li wile e ona ala la seme li ken}}}}</ref>, equivalent to {{tp|jan lili}} with only the {{tp|lili}} emphasized.) This method is rare and is seen as ungrammatical or nonstandard by some people.
▲|a a a
▲}}
==={{tp|pu}}===
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{{pu def}}
Notably, the book only shows examples of {{tp|a}} as an interjection or at the end of a sentence. The word isn't shown emphasizing a specific part of a sentence.
==={{tp|ku}}===
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{{ku data}}
==History==
In [[pre-pu]] sources, {{tp|a}} was only used as an emotion word and for laughter, not to mark emphasis.<ref>{{cite web |title=Lesson 9 |website={{tok|o kama sona e toki pona!}} |author={{tok|jan Pije}} |url=http://bknight0.myweb.uga.edu/toki/lesson/lesson9.html |url-status=unfit |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070630173023/http://bknight0.myweb.uga.edu/toki/lesson/lesson9.html |archive-date=2007-06-30 |quote={{tp|a}} is a word that expresses emotion or laughter.}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://tokipona.net/tp/ClassicWordList.aspx |url-status=unfit |title=Classic Word List (Improved!) |website=tokipona.net |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130108010414/http://tokipona.net/tp/ClassicWordList.aspx |archive-date=2013-01-08 |quote=''interj'' ah, ha, uh, oh, ooh, aw, well (emotion word)}}</ref> Instead, {{tp|[[kin]]}} was used to mark emphasis.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://tokipona.net/tp/ClassicWordList.aspx |url-status=unfit |title=Classic Word List (Improved!) |website=tokipona.net |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130108010414/http://tokipona.net/tp/ClassicWordList.aspx |archive-date=2013-01-08 |quote=''mod'' also, too, even, indeed (emphasizes the word(s) before it)}}</ref> The word {{tp|a}} was also only added at the end of a sentence, not in the middle.
In the 2014 book {{pu|en}}, [[Sonja Lang]] attempted to merge {{tp|a}} and {{tp|kin}} into one word,<ref>{{cite Discord |url=https://discord.com/channels/301377942062366741/301378960468738050/814051883823529994 |channel=learn-toki-pona-1 |server=ma pona pi toki pona |author=Sonja Lang |username=sonjalang |access-date=2024-05-14 |quote=for better or worse, i had the idea to merge kin and a in my book, but i don't think it's really taken off in usage. i personally use a and kin differently.}}</ref> adding "emphasis" to {{tp|a}}'s definition. The two words were not fully merged in community usage, but the meaning and usage of {{tp|a}} did shift as a result of this. {{tp|a}} is now widely used as an emphasis marker, and it can be used in the middle of a sentence, unlike pre-{{tp|pu}} usage of {{tp|a}} but similar to pre-{{tp|pu}} usage of {{tp|kin}}.
=={{tp|sitelen pona}}==
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