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=={{tp|sitelen pona}}==
=={{tp|sitelen pona}}==
The {{tp|[[sitelen pona]]}} glyph for {{tp|ala}} represents a cross, similar to the letter "X", a crosslinguistic symbol for negation. The glyph is sometimes used as an [[extended glyph]] {{sp|1={<span style="opacity:0.5;">ijo</span>}ala(<span style="opacity:0.5;">ijo</span>)}} that continues below the repeated word
The {{tp|[[sitelen pona]]}} glyph for {{tp|ala}} ({{UCSUR char|{{codepoint|ala}}}}) represents a cross, similar to the letter "X", a crosslinguistic symbol for negation. The glyph is sometimes used as an [[extended glyph]] {{sp|1={<span style="opacity:0.5;">ijo</span>}ala(<span style="opacity:0.5;">ijo</span>)}} that continues below the repeated word


{{Example
{{Example

Revision as of 12:20, 3 December 2023

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ala in sitelen pona
ala in sitelen sitelen
Pronunciation /ˈa.la/
Usage 2023: Core (100% → )2022: Core (100%)
Book and era nimi pu
Part of speech Semiparticle, 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

The word ala is derived from Georgian არა (ara), meaning "no, not".[1]

Semantic space

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

In the "Official Toki Pona Dictionary" section, the book Toki Pona: The Language of Good defines ala as:

ADJECTIVE  no, not, zero

ku

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

As a particle, ala is used to negate a word, phrase, or sentence.

Tag questions

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

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

The sitelen sitelen glyph for ala represents an X cross inside a square.

References

  1. "Word Origins". tokipona.org. Archived from the original on 8 August 2002.
  2. Lang, Sonja. (18 July 2021). Toki Pona Dictionary. Illustrated by Vacon Sartirani. Tawhid. ISBN 978-0978292362. p. 199.

Further reading