Word order: Difference between revisions
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(Created page with "Toki Pona's '''word order''' is subject–verb–object (SVO). The verb is introduced with the particle ''li''. The direct object is introduced with ''e''. :;<span style="opacity:0.5;">subject</span> ''li'' <span style="opacity:0.5;">verb</span> (''e'' <span style="opacity:0.5;">object</span>). ::Subject verbs (object). Multiple subjects are connected with ''en''. Multiple verbs a...") |
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#REDIRECT [[Sentence structure]] |
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[[Toki Pona]]'s '''word order''' is [[wikipedia:Subject–verb–object word order|subject–verb–object]] (SVO). |
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The [[verb]] is introduced with the [[particle]] ''[[li]]''. The direct [[object]] is introduced with ''[[e]]''. |
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:;<span style="opacity:0.5;">subject</span> ''li'' <span style="opacity:0.5;">verb</span> (''e'' <span style="opacity:0.5;">object</span>). |
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::Subject verbs (object). |
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Multiple [[subject]]s are connected with ''[[en]]''. Multiple verbs and objects are introduced by repeating the particle for each. In standard grammar, all of the subjects go first, but objects can tag onto their respective verbs. |
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:;<span style="opacity:0.5;">subject</span> ''en'' <span style="opacity:0.5;">subject</span> ''li'' <span style="opacity:0.5;">verb</span> (''e'' <span style="opacity:0.5;">object</span> ''e'' <span style="opacity:0.5;">object</span>) ''li'' <span style="opacity:0.5;">verb</span> (''e'' <span style="opacity:0.5;">object</span> ''e'' <span style="opacity:0.5;">object</span>). |
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::Subject and subject verb (object and object) and verb (object and object). |
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[[Modifiers]] follow their heads. |
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:In ''<u>toki</u> pona'', ''toki'' ("language") is the head, and ''pona'' ("good") is the modifier. |
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:''<u>sike</u> loje mi'' is literally "<u>ball</u> red my", and means "my red <u>ball</u>". |
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:This is typically the opposite of English, but there are counterexamples like "<u>someone</u> special", "<u>anything</u> new", "<u>time</u> immemorial", and "<u>Alcoholics</u> Anonymous". |
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==Free word order== |
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An experimental system for [[wikipedia:Free word order|free word order]] was created as an April Fools' Day joke. Most speakers do not use or easily understand it. |
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In this system, the subject, verb, and object can go in any order. The subject is introduced with ''en'' if it does not start the sentence. |
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{|class="wikitable" |
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!SOV |
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|''ona e kasi li moku.'' |
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|"They plants eat." |
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|- |
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!SVO |
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|''ona li moku e kasi.'' |
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|"They eat plants." |
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|- |
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!VSO |
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|''li moku en ona e kasi.'' |
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|"Eat they plants." |
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|- |
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!VOS |
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|''li moku e kasi en ona.'' |
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|"Eat plants they." |
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|- |
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!OVS |
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|''e kasi li moku en ona.'' |
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|"Plants eat they." |
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|- |
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!OSV |
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|''e kasi en ona li moku.'' |
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|"Plants they eat." |
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|} |
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Besides its lack of acceptance, there are some potential problems with this system. The correspondence between multiple verbs and objects may be lost. Also, sentence boundaries may be unclear. |
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Latest revision as of 20:47, 20 January 2024
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