ala
  | |
| Pronunciation | /ˈa.la/ (listen) |
|---|---|
| Usage | 2023: Core (100% → ) 2022: Core (100%) |
| Book and era | nimi pu |
| Part of speech | Particle, content word |
| Codepoint | U+F1902 |
ala is a core particle used for negation and a content word relating to nothingness, as well as the number zero.
Etymology[edit | edit source]
The word ala is derived from Georgian არა (ara), meaning "no, not".[1]
Semantic space[edit | edit source]
The semantic space of ala includes nothingness, an absence of anything. As a transitive verb, it may refer to causing to become nothing, such as removing or erasing.
o ala e toki ni
o ala e toki ni.Delete this comment.
When used as a number, ala refers to the number zero.
pu[edit | edit source]
In the "Official Toki Pona Dictionary" section, the book Toki Pona: The Language of Good defines ala as:
ADJECTIVE no, not, zero
ku[edit | edit source]
For Toki Pona Dictionary, respondents in ma pona pi toki pona translated these English words as ala:[2]
not5, none5, zero5, no5, nothing5, neither3, nor2, hardly2
Function[edit | edit source]
As a particle, ala is used to negate a word, phrase, or sentence.
Tag questions[edit | edit source]
The word ala is used to form a yes–no question, by repeating the main word in the predicate, with the it between the repetitions.
sina moku ala moku?
sina moku ala moku?Do you eat? (literally, "you eat not/eat?")
sitelen pona[edit | edit source]
The sitelen pona glyph for ala represents a cross, similar to the letter "X", a crosslinguistic symbol for negation. The glyph 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?
sitelen sitelen[edit | edit source]
The sitelen sitelen glyph for ala represents an X cross inside a square.
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ Word Origins. Archived from the original on 2 November 2019. Toki Pona.
- ↑ Lang, Sonja (2021). Toki Pona Dictionary. Illustrated by Vacon Sartirani. Tawhid. ISBN 978-0978292362. p. 199.
Further reading[edit | edit source]
- "ala" on lipu Linku
- "ala" on lipu Wikipesija
- "ala" on English Wiktionary