la
  | |
| Usage | 2023: Core (100% → ) 2022: Core (100%) |
|---|---|
| Book and era | nimi pu |
| Part of speech | Particle |
| Codepoint | U+F1921 |
la is a particle in Toki Pona. It separates the main part of a sentence from its context. What comes before la can range from a single content word to a full clause.
Functions[edit | edit source]
la indicates that what comes after it follows from or depends on what came before. It is extremely general, and can indicate all sorts of antecedent–consequent relationships, including prepositional descriptions, cause and effect, or conditions. Generally, what comes before la is the context for what comes after.
Fronting prepositional phrases[edit | edit source]
la can be used to put a prepositional phrase at the front of a sentence.
jan [suwi ona nasin jan ale] li pana e toki pona tawa kulupu kepeken toki ni
jan Sonja li pana e toki pona tawa kulupu kepeken toki ni.Sonja gave Toki Pona to the community with these words.
kepeken toki ni la jan [sona open nasin ni jo awen] li pana e toki pona tawa kulupu
kepeken toki ni la jan Sonja li pana e toki pona tawa kulupu.With these words Sonja gave Toki Pona to the community.
When fronted, lon is most frequently dropped.
mi moku e kili lon tenpo ni.
mi moku e kili lon tenpo ni.I'm eating a fruit at this time (now).
tenpo ni la mi moku e kili.
tenpo ni la mi moku e kili.As for this time (now) I'm eating fruit.
lon can be added back in, and other fronted prepositions can get dropped, depending on the speaker.
Sometimes, lon is also used as a content word. In this case, it is retained:
jan mute li lon ma ni.
jan mute li lon ma ni.Lots of people are here.
ma ni la jan mute li lon.
ma ni la jan mute li lon.Around here there are lots of people.
Cause and effect[edit | edit source]
la can show cause and effect. The part before the la is taken to bring about, or be the condition for, what comes after the particle.
ilo li mu la mi lukin e ona.
ilo li mu la mi lukin e ona.My phone rang so I checked it.
When my phone rings I check it.
If my phone rings I'll check it.
tenpo seli la mi pilin pona.
tenpo seli la mi pilin pona."Summertime and the livin' is easy".[1]
Punctuation[edit | edit source]
Commas are optional, and can be placed before or after the la. ku calls this a "stylistic choice". In this article, commas are omitted.
External resources[edit | edit source]
- pu Lesson 14
- jan Lentan Lesson 9
- soweli Tesa
- nasin toki pona
- jan Kekan San Context and la
- jan Kekan San Tricks with la