insa

From sona pona, the Toki Pona wiki
insa in sitelen pona
insa in sitelen sitelen
Pronunciation /ˈin.sa/
Usage 2023: Core (100% ↗︎ )2022: Core (99%)
Book and era nimi pu
Part of speech Content word
Codepoint 󱤏 U+F190F

insa is a core content word, used as a spatial word, relating to something physically inside or in between.

Etymology[edit | edit source]

The word insa is derived from Tok Pisin insait ("inside"), itself from English inside.[1]

Semantic space[edit | edit source]

The semantic space of insa, when used as a spatial word, includes inwards and things physically inside something. It can also refer to the space between two things that may not enclose it completely.[2] In relation to the human body, it usually refers to the guts and other internal organs.

insa also has various figurative applications. For example, the mind may be described as inside a head[2] under certain philosophical frameworks. Something neutral is between two extremes, a use that overlaps the semantic space of meso.

pu[edit | edit source]

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

NOUN  centre, content, inside, between; internal organ, stomach

ku[edit | edit source]

For Toki Pona Dictionary, respondents in ma pona pi toki pona translated these English words as insa:[3]

internal5, inner5, interior5, centre5, guts4, core4, central3, inside3, middle3, belly3, stomach3, internal organ2, within2, insert2, content2, amid2, between2

sitelen pona[edit | edit source]

The sitelen pona glyph for insa (󱤏) is derived from a truncated rectangle with a location dot placed inside it. It resembles the glyph for poki (poki), although poki is usually typically taller. Compare the glyphs for anpa, monsi, poka, sinpin, as well as the secular version of sewi.

sitelen sitelen[edit | edit source]

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References[edit | edit source]

  1. "Word Origins". tokipona.org. Archived from the original on 8 August 2002.
  2. 2.0 2.1 lipamanka. "toki pona dictionary". lipamanka.gay.
  3. Lang, Sonja. (18 July 2021). Toki Pona Dictionary. Illustrated by Vacon Sartirani. Tawhid. ISBN 978-0978292362. pp. 215–216.

Further reading[edit | edit source]