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{{nimi
{{nimi
|PoS=particle
| PoS = particle
}}
}}
'''{{tp|la}}''' is a [[particle]] in [[Toki Pona]]. It separates the main part of a sentence from its [[context]]. What comes before {{tp|la}} can range from a single [[content word]] to a full clause.
'''{{tp|la}}''' is a [[particle]] used to separate the [[context]] from the main part of a sentence. The phrase before {{tp|la}} can range from a single [[content word]] to a full clause.


== Functions ==
==Functions==
{{tp|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 {{tp|la}} is the context for what comes after.
{{tp|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 {{tp|la}} is the context for what comes after.


=== Fronting prepositional phrases ===
=== Fronting prepositional phrases ===
{{tp|la}} can be used to put a prepositional phrase at the front of a sentence.
{{tp|la}} can be used to put a prepositional phrase at the front of a sentence.

{{Example|jan Sonja li pana e toki pona tawa kulupu kepeken toki ni.|Sonja gave Toki Pona to the community with these words.|jan [suwi ona nasin jan ale] li pana e toki pona tawa kulupu kepeken toki ni}}
{{Example
{{Example|<u>kepeken toki ni la</u> jan Sonja li pana e toki pona tawa kulupu.|<u>With these words</u> Sonja gave Toki Pona to the community.|<u>kepeken toki ni la</u> jan [sona open nasin ni jo awen] li pana e toki pona tawa kulupu}}
|jan Sonja li pana e toki pona tawa kulupu kepeken toki ni.
|Sonja gave Toki Pona to the community with these words.
|jan [suwi ona nasin jan ale] li pana e toki pona tawa kulupu kepeken toki ni
}}
{{Example
|<mark>kepeken toki ni la</mark> jan Sonja li pana e toki pona tawa kulupu.
|<mark>With these words</mark> Sonja gave Toki Pona to the community.
|<mark>kepeken toki ni la</mark> jan [sona open nasin ni jo awen] li pana e toki pona tawa kulupu
}}


When fronted, {{tp|[[lon]]}} is most frequently dropped.
When fronted, {{tp|[[lon]]}} is most frequently dropped.

{{Example|mi moku e kili lon tenpo ni.|I'm eating a fruit at this time (now).}}
{{Example
{{Example|<u>tenpo ni la</u> mi moku e kili.|<u>As for this time (now)</u> I'm eating fruit.}}
|mi moku e kili lon tenpo ni.
|I'm eating a fruit at this time (now).
}}
{{Example
|<mark>tenpo ni la</mark> mi moku e kili.
|<mark>As for this time (now)</mark> I'm eating fruit.
}}

{{tp|lon}} can be added back in, and other fronted prepositions can get dropped, depending on the speaker.
{{tp|lon}} can be added back in, and other fronted prepositions can get dropped, depending on the speaker.


Sometimes, {{tp|[[lon]]}} is also used as a content word. In this case, it is retained:
Sometimes, {{tp|[[lon]]}} is also used as a content word. In this case, it is retained:
{{Example|jan mute li lon ma ni.|Lots of people are here.}}
{{Example|ma ni la jan mute li lon.|Around here there are lots of people.}}


{{Example
=== Cause and effect ===
|jan mute li lon ma ni.
|Lots of people are here.
}}
{{Example
|ma ni <mark>la</mark> jan mute li lon.
|Around here there are lots of people.
}}

===Cause and effect===
{{tp|la}} can show cause and effect. The part before the {{tp|la}} is taken to bring about, or be the condition for, what comes after the particle.
{{tp|la}} can show cause and effect. The part before the {{tp|la}} is taken to bring about, or be the condition for, what comes after the particle.
{{Example|<u>ilo li mu la</u> mi lukin e ona.|
<u>My phone rang so</u> I checked it.


{{Example
<u>When my phone rings</u> I check it.
|<mark>ilo li mu la</mark> mi lukin e ona.

<u>If my phone rings</u> I'll check it.
|<mark>My phone rang, so</mark> I checked it.<br/>
<mark>When my phone rings,</mark> I check it.<br/>
<mark>If my phone rings,</mark> I will check it.
}}
}}
{{Example|tenpo seli la mi pilin pona.|"Summertime and the livin' is easy".<ref>{{wp|Summertime (Gershwin Song)}}</ref>}}


== Punctuation ==
==Punctuation==
Commas are optional, and can be placed before or after the {{tp|la}}. {{tp|[[ku]]}} calls this a "stylistic choice". In this article, commas are omitted.
Commas are optional in Toki Pona, and they can be placed before or after {{tp|la}}. In the {{ku|en}}, Sonja Lang states that it is a "stylistic choice".{{cite ku|9}} In this article, all commas are omitted in Toki Pona text.

==Domain names==
The {{w|Country code top-level domain|top-level domain}} {{w|.la}}, officially used by {{w|Laos}}, is popularly used in the Toki Pona community for websites with Toki Pona content.


==References==
== External resources ==
<references/>
* {{tp|[[pu]]}} Lesson 14
* [//lipu-sona.pona.la/9.html {{tok|jan Lentan}} Lesson 9]
* [//sowelitesa.kittycat.homes/lipu-sona/15 {{tok|soweli Tesa}}]
* [//github.com/kilipan/nasin-toki#the-particle-la {{tok|nasin toki pona}}]
* [//mun.la/sona/la.html {{tok|jan Kekan San}} Context and {{tok|la}}]
* [//mun.la/sona/la-extras.html {{tok|jan Kekan San}} Tricks with {{tok|la}}]


== References ==
==External resources==
* {{pu|en}}: Lesson 14
<references />
* {{tok|jan Lentan}}: [//lipu-sona.pona.la/9.html Lesson 9]
* {{tok|soweli Tesa}}: [//sowelitesa.kittycat.homes/lipu-sona/15 Lesson 15]
* {{tok|jan Kekan San}}: [//mun.la/sona/la.html Context and {{tok|la}}]
* {{tok|jan Kekan San}}: [//mun.la/sona/la-extras.html Tricks with {{tok|la}}]
* {{tp|nasin toki pona}}: [//github.com/kilipan/nasin-toki#the-particle-la the particle {{tok|la}}]
{{Words}}
{{Words}}

Revision as of 06:16, 11 October 2023

la in sitelen pona
la in sitelen sitelen
Pronunciation /la/
Usage 2023: Core (100% → )2022: Core (100%)
Book and era nimi pu
Part of speech Particle
Codepoint 󱤡 U+F1921

la is a particle used to separate the context from the main part of a sentence. The phrase before la can range from a single content word to a full clause.

Functions

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

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

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 will check it.

Punctuation

Commas are optional in Toki Pona, and they can be placed before or after la. In the Toki Pona Dictionary, Sonja Lang states that it is a "stylistic choice".Lang, Sonja. (18 July 2021). Toki Pona Dictionary. Illustrated by Vacon Sartirani. Tawhid. ISBN 978-0978292362. p. 9. In this article, all commas are omitted in Toki Pona text.

Domain names

The top-level domain .la, officially used by Laos, is popularly used in the Toki Pona community for websites with Toki Pona content.

References


External resources