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{{Example|mi toki. mi moku.|I speak and eat.}} |
{{Example|mi toki. mi moku.|I speak and eat.}} |
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Some speakers use a second {{tp|li}} in this case. This is referred to as "extended {{tp|li}} style" in the {{ku|en}}. |
Some speakers use a second {{tp|li}} in this case. This is referred to as "extended {{tp|li}} style" in the {{ku|en}}.<ref>{{cite ku|10}}</ref> |
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{{Example|mi moku li toki.|I eat and speak.}} |
{{Example|mi moku li toki.|I eat and speak.}} |
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Revision as of 16:21, 9 November 2023
  | |
| Pronunciation | /li/ |
|---|---|
| Usage | 2023: Core (100% → )2022: Core (100%) |
| Book and era | nimi pu |
| Part of speech | Particle |
| Codepoint | U+F1927 |
li is a particle used to introduce the predicate, that is, it separates the subject from the rest of the sentence.
Etymology
The word li is derived from the Esperanto third-person singular pronoun li.[1]
Function
The particle li separates the subject from the predicate. The predicate can be intepreted as a verb, noun, adjective, or prepositional phrase. The particle is omitted when the subject consists only of the word mi or sina.
ona li mokuona li moku.
They eat.
soweli li suwisoweli li suwi.
The dog is cute.
kili li mokukili li moku.
Fruits are food.
mi tawa tomomi tawa tomo.
I'm going home.
When the subject is anything other than the words mi or sina alone, it is separated by li, including when they are acting as a modifier in a noun phrase.
sina en mi li lukin e sitelen tawasina en mi li lukin e sitelen tawa.
You and I watch a movie.
moku mi li lon supamoku mi li lon supa.
My food is on the table.
Multiple predicates
In order to introduce multiple predicates, the particle li is repeated.
ona li kama li tawaona li kama li tawa.
They come and go.
The book Toki Pona: The Language of Good says that when multiple predicates are applied to mi or sina, a new sentence should start.[2]
mi toki mi mokumi toki. mi moku.
I speak and eat.
Some speakers use a second li in this case. This is referred to as "extended li style" in the Toki Pona Dictionary.[3]
mi moku li tokimi moku li toki.
I eat and speak.
A downside of this method is exemplified in this sentence: it is ambiguous whether toki is meant to be a predicate or a modifier of mi.
mi moku li tokimi moku li toki.
The food-related me is talking.
Edge cases
There are some edge cases where the style of the speaker may lead to differences in how li is used. The particle a in the sentence below is acting and modifying mi, but this may considered a special case and may not be counted. However, because it is still acting similar or even the same as a modifier, speakers might also use li similarly to with any modifier. A similar effect might happen with kin.
mi a wawami a wawa.
mi a li wawami a li wawa.
Dropping after mi and sina
Learners sometimes wonder why li gets added for everything else, but not for mi and sina. Because the underlying confusion, or curiosity, can have different causes, there are many possible answers.
Etymologically speaking, li is a third-person marker, derived from Esperanto, and it functions similarly to the Tok Pisin particle i, which introduces the verb except when the subject is the first- or second-person singular pronouns.[4][5][6]
It is commonly analysed that there is a "hidden" li after mi or sina.
Misconceptions
li is not "is"
In his series 12 Days of sona pi toki pona, jan Misali introduces the word li as meaning "is".[7] This has since been corrected in his newer series toki pona lessons.
References
- ↑ "Word Origins". tokipona.org. Archived from the original on 8 August 2002.
- ↑ Lang, Sonja. (25 May 2014). Toki Pona: The Language of Good. Tawhid. ISBN 978-0978292300. OCLC 921253340. p. 56.
- ↑ Lang, Sonja. (18 July 2021). Toki Pona Dictionary. Illustrated by Vacon Sartirani. Tawhid. ISBN 978-0978292362. p. 10.
- ↑ Franklin, Karl J. (1980). The particles ‘i’ and ‘na’ in Tok Pisin. Kivung. 12 (2): 134-144.
- ↑ Tung, Cindy (2014). Grammaticalization in Tok Pisin. Lingua Frankly. 2 (1). doi:10.6017/lf.v2i1.5419
- ↑ Verhaar, J. W. M. (1991). The Function of I in Tok Pisin. Journal of Pidgin and Creole Languages. 6 (2): 231–266. doi:10.1075/jpcl.6.2.04ver.
- ↑ jan Misali. (14 December 2015). "12 Days of sona pi toki pona Day Two: Sentence Structure". jan Misali [@HMaster]. YouTube.
External links
Resources
- Toki Pona: The Language of Good: Lessons 2–5
- jan Kekan San: Actions with li
- jan Lentan: Lessons 1–4
- jan Misali (2022): what is toki pona? (toki pona lesson one)
- soweli Tesa: Lesson 2
- nasin toki pona: the particle li
- Jonathan Gabel: Basic Sentences
Obsolete resources
- jan Sonja (2002): Lesson 1
- jan Pije (2014): Lesson 3
- jan Misali (2015): Day Two: Sentence Structure
- jan Pije (2020): Lesson 3