luka pona
luka pona, also known as LPSL (luka pona sign language), is a constructed sign language. It is a tokiponido created by jan Olipija. It is a real sign language, including classifiers and nonmanual features (NMFs), unlike toki pona luka which is a relex of toki pona into signs.
The main community center for luka pona is the #luka-pona
channel on the ma pona pi toki pona Discord server.
Phonology and morphology
luka pona morphology is primarily defined by the combination of handshape, placement, orientation, and motion.
Handshapes
-
wan (1): Index finger extended
-
tu (V): Index and middle fingers extended
-
tawa (L): Index finger and thumb extended
-
kiwen (OpenA): Fist with thumb extended
-
supa (FlatB): Fingers together
-
nena (BentB): Fingers together, bent at knuckles
-
sike (O): Tips of index (and middle) finger and thumb touching (other fingers together)
-
telo (5): Fingers spread
-
lili (9): Tips of index finger and thumb touching (other fingers spread)
Grammar
Modifiers
Similar to toki pona, modifiers follow the word they are modifying.[1]
Particles
The sign PI can be replaced with a brief pause without signing, and the sign for LA can be replaced with a longer pause without signing.[2]
Directional signs
Signs such as LUKIN, UTALA, KAMA/TAWA, and PANA/LANPAN point from the direction that the corresponding action comes from.[3] For example, MI SINA LUKIN(tawa sina), the sign LUKIN points toward the referent of SINA, but in SINA MI LUKIN(tawa mi), it points toward the speaker. In ONA-1 ONA-2 LUKIN, it points toward the side of ONA-2.
Postpositions
Unlike Toki Pona, which has prepositions and preverbs, luka pona instead uses postpositions and postverbs.[4]
The sign O is also postpositive. When used for commands, it can be replaced by signing intensely. When used to address someone, O can be replaced by wiggling the hand intensely before or after the name; or with the sign LUKIN-E, pointing at the speaker, after the name.[5]
Negation
Negation can be either expressed using the sign ALA or be signaled by shaking the head, lowering the eyebrows, and frowning.[6]
Syntax
luka pona has a subject–object–verb (SOV) word order and lacks the words li or e. The basic word order is structured as subject NI-1 object NI-2 verb. The NI signs point toward different sides, including for multiple subjects and objects.[7]
A second subject can be clarified with the sign EN/KIN/KAN, following the NI for the first subject. Multiple verbs are separated by a brief pause.[8]
Interrogative clauses
In interrogative clauses, the sign SEME always ends the sentence. Yes-or-no questions are formed with a confused expression or by tilting the head to the side.[9] SEME is also used to link sentences instead of ni.[10]
Vocabulary
Fingerspelling
luka pona manual alphabet consists of 14 signs, which can be either one-handed or two-handed, used to spell out names and words from toki pona.[11]
Lexicalization
Lexicalization in sign languages refers to the borrowing of fingerspelled signs. For example, the signs for ku, jasima, pu, soko, unpa and eliki[12] lack equivalent signs, but instead, are lexicalized, fingerspelled signs.
Time
Time phrases are expressed with phrase TENPO NI, with the sign NI pointing in different directions.[13] Pointing back represents tenpo pini, pointing at one's feet represents tenpo ni, and pointing forward represents tenpo kama.
Numbers
Numbers can be expressed with the signs for Toki Pona number words, or by extending the corresponding number of fingers, optionally with the sign for nanpa before. Another way of enumerating things is to touch the nth finger on the other hand.[14]
Intensifiers
luka pona does not use the intensifier a. Instead, the speaker uses two hands.[15] The sign MUTE can be replaced by signing a word many times in a row.
Word list
Word | Handshape | Orientation, placement, movement, details | SignWriting | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ala | supa (FlatB) | shoulder (lon nena (pi poka sijelo)) |
| ||||||||
alasa | wan (1) | away from self (tawa weka) |
| ||||||||
ale/ali | telo (5) | vertical circle (sike sewi) |
| ||||||||
anpa | tawa (L) | pointing down (palisa luka li lon anpa) |
| ||||||||
nena (BentB) | downward movement (tawa anpa) | ||||||||||
ante | kiwen (OpenA) | flip up (o ante e sinpin luka lon sewi) |
| ||||||||
wan (1) | |||||||||||
anu | tawa (L) | flip up (o ante e sinpin tawa sewi) |
| ||||||||
awen | nena (BentB) | towards self (tawa jan) |
| ||||||||
shoulder (nena (lon poka sijelo)) | |||||||||||
akesi | tu (V) | fingers pointing sideways (palisa luka li lon weka) on mouth (lon uta) |
| ||||||||
esun | nena (BentB) | vertical circle (sike supa) palm up (sinpin luka li lon sewi) |
| ||||||||
en/kin/kan | tawa (L) | flip down (o ante e sinpin tawa anpa) |
| ||||||||
ijo | wan (1) | other hand (lon luka (ante)) |
| ||||||||
ilo | tawa (L) | other hand (lon luka (ante)) |
| ||||||||
isipin/lukin | wan (1) | eyes (lon oko) |
| ||||||||
insa | tawa (L) | chest/stomach (lon sijelo) |
| ||||||||
ike | kiwen (OpenA) | palm away from self (sinpin luka li lon jan) |
| ||||||||
jelo | lili (9) | beside head (lon lawa (poka)) |
| ||||||||
jo | nena (BentB) | palm up (sinpin luka li lon sewi) |
| ||||||||
jaki | kiwen (OpenA) | eyes (lon oko) palm away from self (sinpin luka li lon jan) |
| ||||||||
jan | wan (1) | downward movement (tawa anpa) fingers up (palisa luka li lon sewi) |
| ||||||||
tawa (L) | downward movement (tawa anpa) palm down (sinpin luka li lon anpa)
| ||||||||||
jasima |
| ||||||||||
kalama | telo (5) | on mouth (lon uta) palm down (sinpin luka li lon anpa) |
| ||||||||
beside head (lon poka lawa) palm down (sinpin luka li lon anpa) | |||||||||||
kama/tawa | tawa (L) | movement away (tawa weka) sideways (tawa poka) towards self (tawa jan) |
| ||||||||
ken | kiwen (OpenA) | downward (tawa anpa) |
| ||||||||
kepeken | kiwen (OpenA) | vertical circle (sike sewi) |
| ||||||||
kili | kiwen (OpenA) | mouth (lon uta) |
| ||||||||
kiwen | kiwen (OpenA) | palm down (sinpin luka li lon anpa) |
| ||||||||
kipisi | tu (V) | flick down (tawa lili anpa) |
| ||||||||
kijetesantakalu | tu (V) | eyes (lon oko) palm away from self (sinpin luka li lon weka) |
| ||||||||
kon | telo (5) | wiggle/fan (tawa mute) |
| ||||||||
ku |
| ||||||||||
kule | lili (9) | vertical circle (sike sewi) |
| ||||||||
kulupu | wan (1) | horizontal circle (sike supa) |
| ||||||||
telo (5) | horizontal circle (sike supa) pointing up (palisa luka li lon sewi) | ||||||||||
kute | wan (1) | head (lon lawa (poka)) |
| ||||||||
kala | supa (FlatB) | shake (tawa mute) |
| ||||||||
ko | nena (BentB) | vertical circle (sike sewi) |
| ||||||||
la | tawa (L) | flick up (tawa lili sewi) |
| ||||||||
lawa | kiwen (OpenA) | head (lon lawa (poka)) |
| ||||||||
lape | supa (FlatB) | head (lon lawa (poka)) |
| ||||||||
laso | lili (9) | hand (other) (lon luka (ante)) |
| ||||||||
len | nena (BentB) | chest/stomach (lon sijelo) |
| ||||||||
lete | telo (5) | hand (other) (lon luka (ante)) |
| ||||||||
lili | supa (FlatB) | downwards motion (tawa anpa) |
| ||||||||
tu (V) | downwards motion (tawa anpa) | ||||||||||
lili (9) | sinpin luka li lon weka (sinpin luka li lon weka) | ||||||||||
lipu | supa (FlatB) | on other hand (lon luka ante) |
| ||||||||
loje | lili (9) | mouth (lon uta) |
| ||||||||
luka | telo (5) | palm away from self (sinpin luka tawa weka) |
| ||||||||
lukin/oko | tu (V) | vertical circle (sike sewi) eyes (lon oko) pointing away from self (palisa luka li lon weka) fingers away from self (palisa luka tawa weka) pointing away from self (palisa luka li lon weka) pointing away from self (palisa luka li lon jan) |
| ||||||||
linja | lili (9) | sideways (tawa poka) |
| ||||||||
lon | wan (1) | flick down (tawa lili anpa) |
| ||||||||
tawa (L) | |||||||||||
lupa | sike (O) | palm down (sinpin luka li lon anpa) |
| ||||||||
ma | supa (FlatB) | horizontal circle (sike supa) palm down (sinpin luka li lon anpa) |
| ||||||||
mama | tu (V) | chest/stomach (lon sijelo) palm up (sinpin luka li lon sewi) |
| ||||||||
mi | wan (1) | pointing towards self (palisa luka li lon jan) |
| ||||||||
moku | sike (O) | mouth (lon uta) |
| ||||||||
monsuta | telo (5) | towards self (tawa jan) |
| ||||||||
mani | wan (1) | eyes (lon oko) pointing up (palisa luka li lon sewi) |
| ||||||||
monsi | supa (FlatB) | palm towards self (sinpin luka li lon jan) |
| ||||||||
moli | supa (FlatB) | mouth (lon uta) sideways motion (tawa poka) |
| ||||||||
meli | tawa (L) | mouth (lon uta) |
| ||||||||
mije | tawa (L) | eyes (lon oko) |
| ||||||||
mu | nena (BentB) | mouth (lon uta) |
| ||||||||
telo (5) | beside head (lon poka lawa) palm down (sinpin luka li lon anpa) | ||||||||||
musi | telo (5) | palm to the side (sinpin luka li lon poka) upward motion (tawa sewi) |
| ||||||||
mute | telo (5) | sideways (tawa poka) |
| ||||||||
mun | sike (O) | head (beside) (lon lawa (poka)) |
| ||||||||
namako/sin | supa (FlatB) | hand (other) (lon luka (ante)) upward motion (tawa sewi) fingers pointing upward (palisa luka li lon sewi) |
| ||||||||
ni | wan (1) | palm down (palisa luka li lon anpa) |
| ||||||||
nanpa | telo (5) | eyes (lon oko) |
| ||||||||
nasa | wan (1) | vertical circle (sike sewi) |
| ||||||||
nasin | supa (FlatB) | away from self (tawa weka) |
| ||||||||
nena | nena (BentB) | palm down (sinpin li lon anpa) |
| ||||||||
nimi | supa (FlatB) | eyes (lon oko) |
| ||||||||
noka | tu (V) | palm down (palisa luka li lon anpa) |
| ||||||||
olin | telo (5) | chest/stomach (lon sijelo) |
| ||||||||
ona | wan (1) | palm sideways (palisa luka li lon poka) |
| ||||||||
open | supa (FlatB) | flip up (ante sinpin tawa sewi) |
| ||||||||
o | supa (FlatB) | flick down (tawa lili tawa anpa) |
| ||||||||
pakala | telo (5) | sinpin li ante tawa sewi (sinpin li ante tawa sewi) |
| ||||||||
pali | kiwen (OpenA) | other hand (lon luka ante) fan/wiggle/shake (tawa mute) |
| ||||||||
palisa | sike (O) | movement sideways (tawa poka) |
| ||||||||
pan | telo (5) | mouth (lon uta) |
| ||||||||
pana/lanpan | nena (BentB) | away from self (tawa weka) sinpin luka li lon sewi (sinpin luka li lon sewi) towards self (tawa jan) sideways (tawa poka) |
| ||||||||
pimeja | lili (9) | shoulder (lon nena (lon poka sijelo)) |
| ||||||||
pini | supa (FlatB) | flip down (ante sinpin tawa anpa) |
| ||||||||
pilin | lili (9) | chest/stomach (lon sijelo) |
| ||||||||
pi | lili (9) | flick up (tawa lili tawa sewi) |
| ||||||||
poka | tawa (L) | fingers point sideways (palisa luka li lon poka) |
| ||||||||
poki | sike (O) | fingers point sideways (sinpin luka li lon poka) |
| ||||||||
pipi | lili (9) | wiggle/shake (tawa mute) |
| ||||||||
pona | kiwen (OpenA) | palm towards self (sinpin luka li lon jan) |
| ||||||||
pu |
| ||||||||||
sama | kiwen (OpenA) | o flip down (ante e sinpin luka tawa anpa) |
| ||||||||
wan (1) | |||||||||||
seli | telo (5) | shoulder (lon nena (pi poka sijelo)) |
| ||||||||
seme | supa (FlatB) | sinpin luka li lon sewi (sinpin luka li lon sewi) |
| ||||||||
wan (1) | shake/wiggle/fan (tawa mute) | ||||||||||
sewi | tawa (L) | pointing up (palisa luka li lon sewi) |
| ||||||||
nena (BentB) | movement up (tawa sewi) | ||||||||||
selo | sike (O) | other hand (lon luka (ante)) |
| ||||||||
sijelo | supa (FlatB) | chest/stomach (lon sijelo) downward (tawa anpa) |
| ||||||||
sike | sike (O) | vertical circle (sike sewi) |
| ||||||||
sin | supa (FlatB) | other hand (lon luka (ante)) movement up (tawa sewi) |
| ||||||||
sina | wan (1) | palm away from self (palisa luka li lon weka) |
| ||||||||
sinpin | supa (FlatB) | palm down (sinpin luka li lon anpa) |
| ||||||||
sitelen | lili (9) | horizontal circle (sike supa) |
| ||||||||
soko |
| ||||||||||
sona | nena (BentB) | head (beside) (lon lawa (poka)) |
| ||||||||
sona/isipin | wan (1) | head (beside) (lon lawa (poka)) pointing up (palisa luka li lon sewi) |
| ||||||||
soweli | tu (V) | pointing up (palisa luka li lon sewi) downward (tawa anpa) |
| ||||||||
suli | supa (FlatB) | movement downward (tawa anpa) |
| ||||||||
tu (V) | |||||||||||
suno | telo (5) | head (beside) (lon lawa (poka)) |
| ||||||||
supa | supa (FlatB) | movement sideways (tawa poka) palm downward (sinpin luka li lon anpa) |
| ||||||||
suwi | tu (V) | mouth (lon uta) |
| ||||||||
tan | telo (5) | flip down (ante sinpin tawa anpa) |
| ||||||||
taso | wan (1) | flick up (tawa lili sewi) |
| ||||||||
tawa/kama | tawa (L) | movement away (tawa weka) sideways (tawa poka) towards self (tawa jan) |
| ||||||||
telo | telo (5) | movement away (tawa weka) |
| ||||||||
tenpo | tu (V) | other hand (lon luka (ante)) |
| ||||||||
toki | supa (FlatB) | vertical circle (sike sewi) |
| ||||||||
tomo | nena (BentB) | sideways (tawa poka) |
| ||||||||
tonsi | tawa (L) | beside head (lon lawa (poka)) |
| ||||||||
tu | tu (V) | palm towards self (sinpin luka li lon jan) |
| ||||||||
unpa | tu (V) | luka li tawa sewi tawa anpa lon tenpo tu
ona li sama nimi U-N-U-N |
| ||||||||
uta | wan (1) | mouth (lon uta) |
| ||||||||
utala | kiwen (OpenA) | movement away (tawa weka) towards self (tawa jan) sideways (tawa poka) |
| ||||||||
walo | lili (9) | eyes (lon oko) |
| ||||||||
wan | wan (1) | palm towards self (sinpin luka li lon jan) |
| ||||||||
waso | telo (5) | flick down (tawa lili anpa) |
| ||||||||
wawa | kiwen (OpenA) | chest/stomach (lon sijelo) |
| ||||||||
weka | supa (FlatB) | flick up (tawa lili sewi) |
| ||||||||
wile | sike (O) | chest/stomach (lon sijelo) |
| ||||||||
telo (5) | towards self (tawa jan) palm up (sinpin luka li lon sewi) |
References
- ↑ jan Olipija. (9 April 2018). nasin toki pi luka pona: nanpa wan - nimi kule en pi (in Toki Pona). Blogspot.
- ↑ jan Olipija. (9 April 2018). nasin toki pi luka pona: nanpa tu - la (in Toki Pona). Blogspot.
- ↑ jan Olipija. (9 April 2018). nasin toki pi luka pona: nanpa luka luka luka - nimi pali tawa (in Toki Pona). Blogspot.
- ↑ jan Olipija. (9 April 2018). nasin toki pi luka pona: nanpa tu tu - nimi poka en nimi poka pali (in Toki Pona). Blogspot.
- ↑ jan Olipija. (9 April 2018). nasin toki pi luka pona: nanpa luka - o (in Toki Pona). Blogspot.
- ↑ jan Olipija. (9 April 2018). nasin toki pi luka pona: nanpa luka tu - ala (in Toki Pona). Blogspot.
- ↑ jan Olipija. (9 April 2018). nasin toki pi luka pona: nanpa tu wan - nimi ijo en nimi pali (in Toki Pona). Blogspot.
- ↑ jan Olipija. (9 April 2018). nasin toki pi luka pona: nanpa luka luka tu - nimi ijo mute en nimi pali mute (in Toki Pona). Blogspot.
- ↑ jan Olipija. (9 April 2018). nasin toki pi luka pona: nanpa luka tu wan - toki pi wile sona. Blogspot.
- ↑ jan Olipija. (9 April 2018). nasin toki pi luka pona: nanpa luka tu tu - nimi luka ‘SEME’ (in Toki Pona). Blogspot.
- ↑ jan Olipija. (9 April 2018). nasin toki pi luka pona: nanpa luka luka wan - nimi nimi (in Toki Pona). Blogspot.
- ↑ jan Tepo (@tbodt) (7 October 2023). Message posted in the thread "eliki li seme tawa sina?" on the
#toki-suli
channel in the ma pona pi toki pona Discord server. Discord. - ↑ jan Olipija. (9 April 2018). nasin toki pi luka pona: nanpa luka luka - tenpo (in Toki Pona). Blogspot.
- ↑ jan Olipija. (9 April 2018). nasin toki pi luka pona: nanpa luka luka tu tu - nanpa (in Toki Pona). Blogspot.
- ↑ jan Olipija. (9 April 2018). nasin toki pi luka pona: nanpa luka wan - a en mute (in Toki Pona). Blogspot.
External links
Resources
Created by jan Olipja
- Video dictionary
- luka pona li seme? (intro blog post)
- Grammar documentation (in Toki Pona; blog)
- Grammar documentation (Google Docs)
- Grammar documentation (Google Docs; literal English translation)
- Dictionary spreadsheet
- Fingerspelling: