ala
Pronunciation | /ˈa |
---|---|
Usage | 2024: Core (100% → )2023: Core (100% → )2022: Core (100%) |
Book and era | nimi pu |
Part of speech | Semiparticle, number, content word |
Codepoint | U+F1902 |
Part of a series on |
Number systems |
nanpa (ordinal number marker)
|
Simple system |
Advanced system (list addends high → low) |
Nonstandard number words |
ala is a core semiparticle 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, "no, not").[1]
Semantic space[edit | edit source]
Modifier[edit | edit source]
In a modifier role, ala means "no" or "not". It nullifies or reverses the semantic space of the preceding phrase.[2] When used as a number, ala refers to the number zero.
ni li waso jelo alani li waso jelo ala.
That's not a yellow bird.
In standard usage, ala is one of a few words that can modify a preverb or preposition.
ona li wile ala sonaona li wile ala sona.
They don't want to know.
mi tawa ala telomi tawa ala telo.
We didn't go to sea.
Head[edit | edit source]
As the head of a phrase, ala can refer to nothingness or the absence of anything. It is occasionally used to talk about voids and vaccuums.
ala li lon poki niala li lon poki ni.
There is nothing in the cup.
The cup is empty.
Predicate[edit | edit source]
As a transitive verb, ala may refer to causing the object to become nothing, such as removing or erasing it.
o ala e toki nio ala e toki ni.
Delete this comment.
It is sometimes also used like a no operation, to mean "to do nothing (to)". Without the palin't shift, this sense is more distinctly phrased as pali ala.
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:[3]
not5, nor2 , hardly2, none5 , zero5 , no5 , nothing5 , neither3
lipamanka's semantic spaces dictionary[edit | edit source]
In lipamanka's semantic spaces dictionary, the entry for ala reads:[4]
the semantic space of ala contains nothing. But don't be fooled, it isn't void of information. "ala li lukin e kili" can be "nobody's looking at the fruit." "jan li moku e ala" can mean "the person ate nothing." as a modifier, it actually reverses the semantic space of whatever words come before it, which no other content word does. "soweli li alasa ala e kili" can mean "the monky doesn't forage for fruit." An ijo ala is never a type of ijo. as a verb, ala can mean "erase" or "delete."
Function[edit | edit source]
The word ala as a particle is used to negate a word, phrase, or sentence.
soweli li wile ala e kilisoweli li wile ala e kili.
The monkey does not want fruit.
Tag questions[edit | edit source]
The word ala is used to form a yes–no question, by repeating the main word in the predicate and placing it between the repetitions.
sina moku ala mokusina moku ala moku?
Do you eat? (lit.
'you eat not/eat?')
sitelen pona[edit | edit source]
The sitelen pona glyph for ala () is a diagonal cross similar to the letter "X", a crosslinguistic symbol for negation and, in sports, failure. The glyph is sometimes used as an extended glyph {ijo}ala(ijo) that continues below the repeated word.
ona li {pona}ala(pona) tawa sinaona li pona ala pona tawa sina?
sitelen sitelen[edit | edit source]
The sitelen sitelen glyph for ala (ala) represents an X cross inside a square.
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ "Word Origins". tokipona.org. Archived from the original on 8 August 2002.
- ↑ lipamanka. "toki pona dictionary". lipamanka.gay.
- ↑ Lang, Sonja. (18 July 2021). Toki Pona Dictionary. Illustrated by Vacon Sartirani. Tawhid. ISBN 978-0978292362. p. 199.
- ↑ lipamanka. "toki pona dictionary". lipamanka.gay.
Further reading[edit | edit source]
- "ala" on lipu Linku
- "ala" on lipu Wikipesija
- "ala" on English Wiktionary