olin

Core Toki Pona content word

olin is a core content word relating to love and emotional bonds.

olin in sitelen pona
olin in sitelen sitelen
Pronunciation /ˈo.lin/
Usage 2023: Core (100% ↗︎ )2022: Core (99%)
Book and era nimi pu
Part of speech Content word
Codepoint 󱥅 U+F1945

Etymology Edit

The word olin is derived from Croatian volim, meaning "I love".[1]

Semantic space Edit

  This section needs work:

Differences in semantic space between speakers, ideally origins of the popular constraints on semantic space

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The semantic space of olin includes strong emotional bonds and affection, such as many kinds of love, be it platonic, familial, or romantic.[2]

mi olin e jan mi

mi olin e jan mi.

I love my partner.

The semantic space of olin does not map completely to the English concept of the word love and like. Notably, according to many speakers, olin does not include a inclination towards something; this is expressed with a longer phrase, such as [ni] li pona tawa mi ("[this] is good towards me") or mi la [ni] li pona ("for me, [this] is good"). Others are less restrictive. For example, jan Misali says to "go ahead and use olin for whatever type of love you want."[3] Notably, in pu, jan Sonja used olin to mean being a fan:

kulupu lili li kama ona li olin e toki-pona

kulupu lili li kama. ona li olin e toki pona.[4]

A small community of Toki Pona fans emerged.

pu Edit

In the "Official Toki Pona Dictionary" section, the book Toki Pona: The Language of Good defines olin as:

VERB  to love, have compassion for, respect, show affection to

ku Edit

For Toki Pona Dictionary, respondents in ma pona pi toki pona translated these English words as olin:[5]

loving5, love5, romance4, romantic3, compassion3, attraction2, intimate2, passion2, beloved2, loyalty2, loyal1, faithful1, dear1, mercy1, darling1, passionate1, care1, appreciation1, crush1, respect1

sitelen pona Edit

The sitelen pona glyph for olin (󱥅) is derived from two heart radicals stacked on top of each other; these may be drawn either connected (olin1) or separated. Compare the glyph for pilin.

An alternative variant of olin (olin2) consists of a heart radical with emitters above.

sitelen sitelen Edit

The sitelen sitelen word glyph for olin (olin) is composed of a heart shape with two circles inside. The circles may be simplified to dots when the glyph is written small.

The exact influences for the design of this glyph are unknown.

References Edit

  1. "Word Origins". tokipona.org. Archived from the original on 8 August 2002.
  2. lipamanka. "toki pona dictionary". lipamanka.gay.
  3. jan Misali's thoughts on words, olin.
  4. Lang, Sonja. (25 May 2014). Toki Pona: The Language of Good. Tawhid. ISBN 978-0978292300. OCLC 921253340. p. 9.
  5. Lang, Sonja. (18 July 2021). Toki Pona Dictionary. Illustrated by Vacon Sartirani. Tawhid. ISBN 978-0978292362. p. 305.

Further reading Edit