pi: Difference between revisions

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{{tp title}}~~{{nimi~~

{{nimi

|PoS=particle

| PoS = particle

}}

'''{{tp|pi}}''' is a [[particle]] used for ~~grouping~~ [[modifier]]s ~~together~~. The resulting phrase that follows it is called a '''{{tp|pi}} phrase'''~~, by analogy to [[preposition]]al phrases~~.

'''{{tp|pi}}''' is a [[particle]] used for regrouping or rebracketing [[modifier]]s. The resulting phrase that follows it is called a '''{{tp|pi}} phrase'''.

==Function==

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By default, each modifier applies to the whole phrase before it:<ref group="lower-alpha">Some speakers analyze all modifiers as applying to the first word instead, but the distinction often doesn't matter.</ref>

== How it works ==

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By default, each modifier applies to the whole phrase before it<ref group="lower-alpha">Some speakers analyze all modifiers as applying to the first word instead, but the distinction often doesn't matter.</ref>:

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== Multiple {{tp|pi}} ==

==Multiple {{tp|pi}}==

While not defined in {{tp|[[pu]]}}, some speakers do use multiple {{tp|pi}} in a single phrase. However, this carries a risk of ambiguity as to whether the second {{tp|pi}} is contained within the first or not:

{{Example|lipu pi sona mute pi toki Inli|English much-knowledge book (is the book in English or is the knowledge about English?)|lipu pi sona mute pi toki [ijo ni li ike]}}

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:{{tp|1=lipu pi sona mute pi toki Inli}}

{{tok|jan Lope}} argues that, like {{tp|[[li]]}} and {{tp|[[e]]}}, both {{tp|pi}} phrases apply equally to the first noun in the phrase, rather than nesting.<ref>~~[//htmlpreview.github.io/?~~https://~~raw.githubusercontent~~.com/jan-Lope/Toki_Pona_lessons_English/~~gh-pages~~/~~toki-pona-lessons_en~~/~~index~~.~~html#3127]~~ {{tok|jan ~~Lope~~}}~~, "Are multiple~~ {{tp|pi}} ~~phrases~~ ~~possible?~~</ref> As an example, he gives:

{{tok|jan Lope}} argues that, like {{tp|[[li]]}} and {{tp|[[e]]}}, both {{tp|pi}} phrases apply equally to the first noun in the phrase, rather than nesting.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://github.com/jan-Lope/Toki_Pona_lessons_English/blob/master/pi.tex|title=pi.tex|website=GitHub|name={{tok|jan Tepo}}|username={{tok|jan-Lope}}|access-date=8 November 2023}}</ref> As an example, he gives:

{{Example|kulupu pi kalama musi pi ma Inli li pona.|The English rock band is good.|kulupu pi kalama musi pi ma [ijo ni li ike] li pona}}

{{Example

|kulupu pi kalama musi pi ma Inli li pona.

|The English rock band is good.

|kulupu pi kalama musi pi ma [ijo ni li ike] li pona

}}

The ambiguity is whether it's an English band that plays some sort of music, or a band from somewhere that plays English music. There is no consensus on this matter, and in practice both interpretations are possible. In fact, many speakers want it to be ambiguous so that clearer phrasing is used instead.

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{{Example|soweli pi kute suli li lawa e kiwen ni.|A big-eared animal rules over this rock.|soweli pi(kute suli) li lawa e kiwen ni}}

==Misconceptions==

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== {{tp|pi}} is not "of" ==

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==={{tp|pi}} is not "of"===

Some dictionaries, [[Toki Pona Dictionary (pu)|most notably the one in {{tp|pu}}]], define {{tp|pi}} as the English word "of". This is misleading, as most senses of "of" don't translate into {{tp|pi}}:

{{Example|toki <del>pi</del> pona|the language <ins>of</ins> good}}

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{{Example|kala utala suli|fish <ins>of</ins> fighting <ins>of</ins> bigness}}

=== Possession ===

===Possession===

{{tp|pi}} is not a possessive particle. It does not necessarily indicate ownership or translate the English "'s" ending. Any adjective can be interpreted as indicating possession regardless of the presence or absence of {{tp|pi}}. {{tp|pi}} serves the same purpose in a possessive context as it does in any other: to separate a group of modifiers from those preceding them.

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Possession is one of many possible interpretations of {{tp|pi}}: what comes after {{tp|pi}} simply modifies, describes, qualifies, or alters what comes before it.

== Controversy ==

==Controversy==

{{tp|pi}} is controversial. To many speakers, it feels too engineered for Toki Pona's natural design, it creates more complexity and misconceptions than it is worth, and it encourages learners to [[Lexicalization|find "the phrase" for any given word]].{{Citation needed|Is there an example of someone specifically asserting this position?}} Avoiding {{tp|pi}} is a common {{tp|nasin}} called [[pin't]].

== External ~~resources~~ ==

==External links==

* {{tp|[[pu]]}} Lesson 11

===Resources===

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* [//lipu-sona.pona.la/9.html ~~{{tok|jan Lentan}}~~ Lesson 9]

* ~~[//sowelitesa.kittycat.homes/~~lipu~~-sona/6~~ ~~{{tok~~|~~soweli Tesa~~}} Lesson 6]

* {{lipu pu|en}}: Lesson 11

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* {{tok|jan Kekan San}}: [//mun.la/sona/mod-pi.html Modifiers and {{tok|pi}}]

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* [//jonathangabel.com/toki-pona/pi/ ~~{{tok|sitelen sitelen}}~~ Descriptions and Possesives]

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* {{tok|jan Lentan}}: [//lipu-sona.pona.la/9.html Lesson 9]

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* [//github.com/kilipan/nasin-toki#the-particle-pi {{tok|~~nasin toki pona~~}}]

* {{tok|soweli Tesa}}: [//sowelitesa.kittycat.homes/lipu-sona/6 Lesson 6]

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* [//mun.la/sona/mod-pi.html ~~{{tok|jan Kekan San}}~~ Modifiers and {{tok|pi}}]

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* {{tp|nasin toki pona}}: [//github.com/kilipan/nasin-toki#the-particle-pi the particle {{tok|pi}}]

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* Jonathan Gabel: [//jonathangabel.com/toki-pona/pi/ Descriptions and Possesives]

== References ==

==References==