monsuta
  | |
| Pronunciation | /ˈmon |
|---|---|
| Usage | 2023: Common4, Widespread6 (83% ↘︎ )2022: Widespread (85%) |
| Book and era | nimi ku suli (pre-pu) |
| Part of speech | Content word |
| Codepoint | U+F197D |
monsuta is a content word related to monsters, scariness, and fear. It was coined by jan Sonja in 2009.
Etymology
The word monsuta is derived from Japanese モンスター (monsutā), itself from English monster. It was coined by jan Sonja in 2009, but it was abandoned shortly after.
The word always saw some use among a minority of speakers. However, for a long time the word monsuta was underused and not well defined. This changed in the late 2010s and early 2020s, when the word became popular and certain trends emerged among its users.
sitelen pona
The sitelen pona glyph represents a mouth with sharp teeth. It was designed by jan Same, a contributor to linja pona, in 2016[1] It originally featured a circle surrounding it, but was later changed after feedback from user jan Tepan Neta Pelin, due to it being confused as a compound with ijo.
Semantic space
In 2010, the official Toki Pona wiki originally defined monsuta as:[2]
- creature that preys on humans; predator
- a real or imagined threat; danger
- a source of fear or dread
In modern usage, the word is often defined as a noun meaning "monster", but also generalized as "something scary, something that causes fear, something dangerous". The word is also commonly used as a modifier to mean "scary, frightening, creepy, spooky" or "monstrous, monster-like".
monsuta li lon anpa supamonsuta li lon anpa supa.
There's a monster under the bed.
sina kute ala kute e kalama monsuta?sina kute ala kute e kalama monsuta?
Do you hear a scary noise?
The word "fear" is included inside monsuta's semantic space. However, it is more commonly expressed as pilin monsuta ("scary feeling").
Transitive use of monsuta
The transitive use of monsuta remains unclear. Depending on the speaker, it can mean "to turn into a monster; to scare" or "to fear". Several pepole support multiple of these interpretations, where the specific meaning depends on context. The fact that transitive monsuta can be analyzed to have two opposite meanings has inspired the monsutatesu analysis of Toki Pona.
Note that the meanings of "to scare" and "to fear" can also be expressed without using transitive monsuta. The sentence "I fear bugs" or "bugs scare me" can be translated in various ways:
pipi li monsuta tawa mipipi li monsuta tawa mi.
Bugs are scary to me.
mi pilin monsuta tawa pipimi pilin monsuta tawa pipi.
I am scared towards bugs.
mi pilin monsuta tan pipimi pilin monsuta tan pipi.
I am scared because of bugs.
pipi li pana e pilin monsuta tawa mipipi li pana e pilin monsuta tawa mi.
Bugs give me fear.
pipi li kama e pilin monsuta lon mipipi li kama e pilin monsuta lon mi.
Bugs make fear emerge in me.
Some people would alternatively express "bugs scare me" as "pipi li pilin monsuta e mi". Other people find this confusing, and would recommend using this sentence primarily for meanings like "bugs touch me in a scary way". Both interpretations exist, and in many cases context can help clarify which meaning is meant.
References
- ↑ jan Same (11 October 2016). Sitelen pona glyphs for new and apocryphal words. Toki Pona Forums.
- ↑ monsuta. Archived from the original in 5 July 2013. Toki Pona.