Three-vowel system: Difference between revisions
Content added Content deleted
No edit summary |
(Prepared the page for translation) |
||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
<languages/> |
|||
{{Short description|Proposed reduction of vowel inventory of Toki Pona}} |
{{Short description|Proposed reduction of vowel inventory of Toki Pona}} |
||
{{lipu pona |
{{lipu pona |
||
|blurb=A '''[[Three-vowel system|three-vowel system]]''' has recurrently been proposed for [[Toki Pona]] since the language's inception. Proposals generally keep the most extreme [[vowel]]s {{IPA|/a i u/}} |
|blurb=A '''[[Special:MyLanguage/Three-vowel system|three-vowel system]]''' has recurrently been proposed for [[Special:MyLanguage/Toki Pona|Toki Pona]] since the language's inception. Proposals generally keep the most extreme [[Special:MyLanguage/vowel|vowel]]s {{IPA|/a i u/}} |
||
<translate> to maximize the contrast between them. They may also give each vowel a different height, such as {{IPA|/a i o/}}. |
|||
}}{{Experimental}} |
}}{{Experimental}} |
||
</translate> |
|||
[[File:Toki Pona vowel chart (three-vowel system).png|thumb|180x180px|Vowel chart for a three-vowel system merging {{IPA|[e]}} to {{IPA|/i/}} and {{IPA|[o]}} to {{IPA|/u/}}]] |
[[File:Toki Pona vowel chart (three-vowel system).png|thumb|180x180px|Vowel chart for a three-vowel system merging {{IPA|[e]}} to {{IPA|/i/}} and {{IPA|[o]}} to {{IPA|<translate>/u/}}</translate>]] |
||
| ⚫ | |||
<translate> |
|||
| ⚫ | |||
Proposals generally keep the most extreme [[vowel]]s {{IPA|/a i u/}} to maximize the contrast between them. For example, {{tp|[[selo]]}} would be transcribed {{IPA|/ˈsilu/}}. These are also the main vowel qualities of the {{w|Arabic phonology|phonology of Arabic}} and some other natural languages, so in theory this system might make Toki Pona more accessible to their speakers. |
Proposals generally keep the most extreme [[Special:MyLanguage/vowel|vowel]]s {{IPA|/a i u/}} to maximize the contrast between them. For example, {{tp|[[Special:MyLanguage/selo|selo]]}} would be transcribed {{IPA|/ˈsilu/}}. These are also the main vowel qualities of the {{w|Arabic phonology|phonology of Arabic}} and some other natural languages, so in theory this system might make Toki Pona more accessible to their speakers. |
||
Proposals may also {{w|Vertical vowel system|give each vowel a different height}}, such as {{IPA|/a i o/}} (an example that preserves the language's name). |
Proposals may also {{w|Vertical vowel system|give each vowel a different height}}, such as {{IPA|/a i o/}} (an example that preserves the language's name). |
||
Some [[tokiponido]]s, such as {{tt|[[tuki tiki]]}}, use a three-vowel system. |
Some [[Special:MyLanguage/tokiponido|tokiponido]]s, such as {{tt|[[Special:MyLanguage/tuki tiki|tuki tiki]]}}, use a three-vowel system. |
||
==History== |
==History== |
||
On 8 July 2002, a [[Toki Pona Forums]] user named Viktoro proposed converting Toki Pona into a trivocalic language. Viktoro cited an extremal three-vowel contrast as an explanation for {{tp|[[iki]]}} being confused with {{tp|[[ike]]}} and replaced with {{tp|[[ona]]}}. [[Sonja Lang]] replied that she had considered the idea before, but posed that: |
On 8 July 2002, a [[Special:MyLanguage/Toki Pona Forums|Toki Pona Forums]] user named Viktoro proposed converting Toki Pona into a trivocalic language. Viktoro cited an extremal three-vowel contrast as an explanation for {{tp|[[Special:MyLanguage/iki|iki]]}} being confused with {{tp|[[Special:MyLanguage/ike|ike]]}} and replaced with {{tp|[[Special:MyLanguage/ona|ona]]}}. [[Special:MyLanguage/Sonja Lang|Sonja Lang]] replied that she had considered the idea before, but posed that: |
||
*"[I]t would blur [[Names|proper nouns]] beyond recognition." |
*"[I]t would blur [[Special:MyLanguage/Names|proper nouns]] beyond recognition." |
||
*Existing [[phonotactics]], such as the {{tp|*[[ti]]}}-palatalization rule, could generate knock-on decisions: "would '{{tok|[[sitelen]]}}' become '{{tok|sisilin}}' or '{{tok|sitalin}}'?" |
*Existing [[Special:MyLanguage/phonotactics|phonotactics]], such as the {{tp|*[[Special:MyLanguage/ti|ti]]}}-palatalization rule, could generate knock-on decisions: "would '{{tok|[[Special:MyLanguage/sitelen|sitelen]]}}' become '{{tok|sisilin}}' or '{{tok|sitalin}}'?" |
||
*She would not make "such a radical change… without the support of the majority" and "much consultation and thought". |
*She would not make "such a radical change… without the support of the majority" and "much consultation and thought". |
||
Both {{IPA|/a i u/}} and {{IPA|/a i o/}} systems were explored, mainly considered as merging {{IPA|/e~i/}} and {{IPA|/o~u/}} into {{w|allophone}}s.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://forums.tokipona.org/viewtopic.php?f=33&t=52|title=New lessons coming soon! / Trivocalic|author=Viktoro|username=vixcafe|date=2002-07-09|website=[[Toki Pona Forums]]|access-date=2023-11-19}}</ref> |
Both {{IPA|/a i u/}} and {{IPA|/a i o/}} systems were explored, mainly considered as merging {{IPA|/e~i/}} and {{IPA|/o~u/}} into {{w|allophone}}s.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://forums.tokipona.org/viewtopic.php?f=33&t=52|title=New lessons coming soon! / Trivocalic|author=Viktoro|username=vixcafe|date=2002-07-09|website=[[Special:MyLanguage/Toki Pona Forums|Toki Pona Forums]]|access-date=2023-11-19}}</ref> |
||
Ultimately, neither of the systems discussed were implemented. However, the idea of merging {{IPA|/e~i/}} may have been leveraged in autumn 2002, when {{tp|[[ale]]}} was noted to be confused with {{tp|[[ala]]}} and received the alternative pronunciation {{tp|[[ali]]}}.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://forums.tokipona.org/viewtopic.php?f=33&t=85|title={{tok|ale}} => {{tok|ale}} or {{tok|ali}}|author=[[Lang, Sonja]]|date=Oct 30, 2002|website=[[Toki Pona Forums]]|accessdate=2023-11-19}}</ref> It can be said that {{IPA|/e~i/}} allophony was applied to this one word. |
Ultimately, neither of the systems discussed were implemented. However, the idea of merging {{IPA|/e~i/}} may have been leveraged in autumn 2002, when {{tp|[[Special:MyLanguage/ale|ale]]}} was noted to be confused with {{tp|[[Special:MyLanguage/ala|ala]]}} and received the alternative pronunciation {{tp|[[Special:MyLanguage/ali|ali]]}}.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://forums.tokipona.org/viewtopic.php?f=33&t=85|title={{tok|ale}} => {{tok|ale}} or {{tok|ali}}|author=[[Special:MyLanguage/Lang, Sonja|Lang, Sonja]]|date=Oct 30, 2002|website=[[Special:MyLanguage/Toki Pona Forums|Toki Pona Forums]]|accessdate=2023-11-19}}</ref> It can be said that {{IPA|/e~i/}} allophony was applied to this one word. |
||
In the [[nimi pu#Main words|set of 120 main words]] taught in {{pu|en}}, there are no [[minimal pair]]s between {{IPA|/e~i/}} or between {{IPA|/o~u/}}. For a time, this led the [[phonology]] to be described as practically a three-vowel system. However, {{ku|en}} validated the popularly used word {{tp|[[kin]]}}, which would conflict with {{tp|[[ken]]}}, and introduced the word {{tp|[[ku]]}} which would conflict with {{tp|[[ko]]}}. |
In the [[Special:MyLanguage/nimi pu#Main words|set of 120 main words]] taught in {{pu|en}}, there are no [[Special:MyLanguage/minimal pair|minimal pair]]s between {{IPA|/e~i/}} or between {{IPA|/o~u/}}. For a time, this led the [[Special:MyLanguage/phonology|phonology]] to be described as practically a three-vowel system. However, {{ku|en}} validated the popularly used word {{tp|[[Special:MyLanguage/kin|kin]]}}, which would conflict with {{tp|[[Special:MyLanguage/ken|ken]]}}, and introduced the word {{tp|[[Special:MyLanguage/ku|ku]]}} which would conflict with {{tp|[[Special:MyLanguage/ko|ko]]}}. |
||
==See also== |
==See also== |
||
* [[User:jan Pensa/tuki puna|{{tp|tuki puna}}]], a detailed proposal by {{tok|[[jan Pensa]]}} (made in 2017, described and published in 2024) |
* [[Special:MyLanguage/User:jan Pensa/tuki puna|{{tp|tuki puna}}]], a detailed proposal by {{tok|[[Special:MyLanguage/jan Pensa|jan Pensa]]}} (made in 2017, described and published in 2024) |
||
==References== |
==References== |
||
<references /> |
<references /> |
||
| ⚫ | |||
</translate> |
|||
| ⚫ | |||
Revision as of 11:36, 4 May 2024
.png)
A three-vowel (or trivocalic) system has recurrently been proposed for Toki Pona since the language's inception.
Proposals generally keep the most extreme vowels /a i u/ to maximize the contrast between them. For example, selo would be transcribed /ˈsilu/. These are also the main vowel qualities of the phonology of Arabic and some other natural languages, so in theory this system might make Toki Pona more accessible to their speakers.
Proposals may also give each vowel a different height, such as /a i o/ (an example that preserves the language's name).
Some tokiponidos, such as tuki tiki, use a three-vowel system.
History
On 8 July 2002, a Toki Pona Forums user named Viktoro proposed converting Toki Pona into a trivocalic language. Viktoro cited an extremal three-vowel contrast as an explanation for iki being confused with ike and replaced with ona. Sonja Lang replied that she had considered the idea before, but posed that:
- "[I]t would blur proper nouns beyond recognition."
- Existing phonotactics, such as the *ti-palatalization rule, could generate knock-on decisions: "would 'sitelen' become 'sisilin' or 'sitalin'?"
- She would not make "such a radical change… without the support of the majority" and "much consultation and thought".
Both /a i u/ and /a i o/ systems were explored, mainly considered as merging /e~i/ and /o~u/ into allophones.[1]
Ultimately, neither of the systems discussed were implemented. However, the idea of merging /e~i/ may have been leveraged in autumn 2002, when ale was noted to be confused with ala and received the alternative pronunciation ali.[2] It can be said that /e~i/ allophony was applied to this one word.
In the set of 120 main words taught in Toki Pona: The Language of Good, there are no minimal pairs between /e~i/ or between /o~u/. For a time, this led the phonology to be described as practically a three-vowel system. However, Toki Pona Dictionary validated the popularly used word kin, which would conflict with ken, and introduced the word ku which would conflict with ko.
See also
References
- ↑ Viktoro [vixcafe]. (9 July 2002). "New lessons coming soon! / Trivocalic". Toki Pona Forums. Retrieved 19 November 2023.
- ↑ Lang, Sonja. (30 October 2002). "ale => ale or ali". Toki Pona Forums.