la
  | |
| 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 nijan 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 kulupukepeken 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 nimi moku e kili lon tenpo ni.
I'm eating a fruit at this time (now).
tenpo ni la mi moku e kilitenpo 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 nijan mute li lon ma ni.
Lots of people are here.
ma ni la jan mute li lonma 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 onailo 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
- Toki Pona: The Language of Good: Lesson 14
- jan Lentan: Lesson 9
- soweli Tesa: Lesson 15
- jan Kekan San: Context and la
- jan Kekan San: Tricks with la
- nasin toki pona: the particle la