Lexicalization: Difference between revisions

'''Lexicalization''' occurs when a phrase becomes solidified as a unit with a fixed meaning. An English example is "high school", which only means a secondary school for higher education. It cannot refer to a school that is physically high up. AEven "pillowthough case"[[Common islexicalizations|some onlyphrases]] everare ain clothdanger cover.of Itbecoming can'tlexicalized referthrough tocommon anotheruse, kindToki ofPona case,tries suchto asavoid alexicalization suitcasefor containingvarious pillowsreasons.

The goal of Toki Pona is to break complicated concepts down into their important aspects, from the speaker's own perspective. This is a dynamic. Differentprocess as different features will be important at different times, in different [[context]]s., Andand people havein different perspectives. The lack of lexicalization is by design. The ''[[Toki Pona Dictionary]]'' confirms this with a "Warning Against Lexicalization!" in its "About the Dictionary" section:

{{pu}} presents a car as an example against lexicalization. To a passenger, a car might be {{tp|tomo tawa}} ("moving room")<ref group="note">Ironically, {{tp|tomo tawa}} [[Common lexicalizations|has become semi-lexicalized]] anyway.</ref>. To its driver, it might be {{tp|ilo tawa}} ("going tool"). To a pedestrian that the car hit, it might be {{tp|kiwen tawa}} ("hard moving hard-thing") or {{tp|kiwen utala}} ("hard hitting thing").<ref>Roc Morin (15 July 2015). "[//theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2015/07/toki-pona-smallest-language/398363 "How to Say Everything in a Hundred-Word Language"].]" {{tp|''The Atlantic}}. 15 July 2015''. "‘What is a car?’ Lang mused recently via phone from her home in Toronto. / ‘You might say that a car is a space that's used for movement,’ she proposed. ‘That would be {{tp|tomo tawa}}. If you’re struck by a car though, it might be a hard object that’s hitting me. That’s {{tp|kiwen utala}}.’"</ref> ("hitting hard-thing"). Beyond these examples, a parked car might not be {{tp|tawa}} at all, but {{tp|awen}} ("staying, unmoving"). YouAny phrase can refer to a car by any phrase as long as you'vethere established theis appropriate context.

Don'tAvoid trytrying to find '''"the phrase"''' for whatever concept you're trying to express. Think about it deeply. What is important about it to you? What is important to mention?

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