lon
Pronunciation | /lon/ |
---|---|
Usage | 2023: Core (100% → )2022: Core (100%) |
Book and era | nimi pu |
Part of speech | Preposition, content word |
Codepoint | U+F192C |
lon is a core preposition and content word relating to presence, location, and truth.
Etymology
The word lon is derived from Tok Pisin long, meaning "in, on, at", itself from English along.[1]
Semantic space
The semantic space of lon includes truth, existence, and reality.
Preposition
As a preposition, lon indicates location, often with a spatial noun, often glossed as "in, on, at".
mi lon tomo mimi lon tomo mi.
I'm home.
I'm in my house.
akesi li wile lon nenaakesi li wile lon nena.[2]
The lizard wants to be on the hill.
jan-ala li lon poka onajan ala li lon poka ona.[3]
There is nobody next to him (at his side).
lon can also qualify that something exists or is true on some condition, not necessarily in reality. It has a similar meaning to la, but not the same grammar.
mi ken tawa sina lon ni2 pali mi li pinimi ken tawa sina lon ni: pali mi li pini.
I can meet up with you on this [condition]: my work is finished.
jan li pana e seli tan luka lon musijan li pana e seli tan luka lon musi.
People shoot fire from their hands in the game.
Content word
As a content word, lon refers to presence or being at a location. The structure X li lon can be used to state that something exists or is present in the moment, the general vicinity, or other context of the conversation.
mi lonmi lon.
We're here.
It may be analogous to the dummy "it" from English, as in weather expressions:
lete li lonlete li lon.
It's cold.
More broadly, lon refers to concepts of reality, existence, and truth. This is because things that are true or real must "be somewhere". So, if no qualification follows lon, it can also be assumed that the "somewhere" is reality in general.
mi toki e lonmi toki e lon.[4]
I say the truth.
lonpi (kiwen ni) li wawa alon pi kiwen ni li wawa a!
This mineral's existence is amazing!
jan-ale o kama sona e lononajan ale o kama sona e lon ona.[5]
Everyone should learn their own truth.
jan-pona mi li toki lonjan pona mi li toki lon![6]
My friends were telling the truth! (lit. were speaking truly)
This sense of lon is also often used as an interjection for agreement:
lon alon a!
So true!
pu
In the "Official Toki Pona Dictionary" section, the book Toki Pona: The Language of Good defines lon as:
PREPOSITION located at, present at, real, true, existing
ku
For Toki Pona Dictionary, respondents in ma pona pi toki pona translated these English words as lon:[7]
at5, life2 , definitely2 , legitimate2 , honestly2 , onto2 , location2 , correct2 , validity2 , correctly2 , occur2 , precisely2 , certain2 , status2 , physically2 , placement2 , sure2 , mm-hmm2 , fact2 , amid2 , availability2 , frankly2 , of course2 , regarding2, existing5 , real5 , exist5 , located5 , presence5 , yep5 , existence5 , actual5 , on5 , true5 , living4 , yes4 , truth4 , reality4 , physical4 , yeah4 , genuine3 , upon3 , truly3 , in3 , alive3 , position3 , accurate3 , exactly3 , occupy3 , live3 , attendance3 , certainly3 , attend3 , indeed3 , right (not wrong)3
sitelen pona
The sitelen pona glyph for lon () is a dot above a horizontal line, representing being on something or at someplace.
References
- ↑ "Word Origins". tokipona.org. Archived from the original on 8 August 2002.
- ↑ jan Kita. "akesi li wile lon nena". utala.pona.la. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
- ↑ Piron, Claude; trans. jan Tepo. "Gerda Malaperis". Google Docs. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
- ↑ Lang, Sonja. (18 July 2021). Toki Pona Dictionary. Illustrated by Vacon Sartirani. Tawhid. ISBN 978-0978292362. p. 7.
- ↑ Hesse, Hermann; trans. jan Kala. "Siddhartha". tokipona.org. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
- ↑ jan Kepe. (15 July 2023). "Nasi". http://utala.pona.la/toki-en-lipu/lipu-suli/nasi.html. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
- ↑ Lang, Sonja. (18 July 2021). Toki Pona Dictionary. Illustrated by Vacon Sartirani. Tawhid. ISBN 978-0978292362. pp. 271–272.
Further reading
- "lon" on lipu Linku
- "lon" on lipu Wikipesija
- "lon" on English Wiktionary