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{{DISPLAYTITLE:''pi''}} |
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'''''pi''''' is a [[:Category:Particles|particle]] used for grouping [[Glossary#Modifier|modifiers]] together. |
'''''pi''''' is a [[:Category:Particles|particle]] used for grouping [[Glossary#Modifier|modifiers]] together. The resulting phrase that follows it is called a ''pi'' phrase, by analogy to prepositional phrases. |
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== How it works == |
== How it works == |
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By default, each modifier applies to the whole phrase before it<ref>Some analyze them as all applying to the first word instead, but the distinction often doesn't matter.</ref>: |
By default, each modifier applies to the whole phrase before it<ref>Some analyze them as all applying to the first word instead, but the distinction often doesn't matter.</ref>: |
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:;jan pona |
:;''jan pona'' |
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::good person |
::good person |
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:;jan pona mute |
:;''jan pona mute'' |
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::many good people |
::many good people |
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''pi'' marks the next word as a new head, which takes its own modifiers |
''pi'' marks the next word as a new head, which takes its own modifiers. |
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;jan pi pona mute |
:;''jan <u>pi pona mute</u>'' |
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:very good person |
::<u>very good</u> person |
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The effect can be similar to hyphenating an adjective phrase in English: |
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:;''tomo telo nasa'' |
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::strange water room (the room, perhaps a washroom, is weird) |
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:;''tomo <u>pi telo nasa</u>'' |
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::<u>strange'''-'''water</u> room (the liquid is weird; perhaps a pub) |
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''pi'' needs to be followed by at least two [[Glossary#Content word|content words]]: the new head and a modifier applying to it. If there would only be one word after it, you don't need the ''pi''. |
''pi'' needs to be followed by at least two [[Glossary#Content word|content words]]: the new head and a modifier applying to it. If there would only be one word after it, you don't need the ''pi''. |
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There is no way to "close" a ''pi'' phrase. Instead, modifiers that apply to the first word should be moved before the ''pi'': |
There is no way to "close" a ''pi'' phrase. Instead, modifiers that apply to the first word should be moved before the ''pi'': |
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:;jan pi pana sona |
:;''jan pi pana sona'' |
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::knowledge-giving person (teacher) |
::knowledge-giving person (teacher) |
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:;jan ike pi pana sona |
:;''jan ike pi pana sona'' |
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::knowledge-giving bad person (bad teacher) |
::knowledge-giving bad person (bad teacher) |
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<references/> |
<references /> |
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== Multiple ''pi'' == |
== Multiple ''pi'' == |
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While not defined in ''[[pu]]'', some speakers do use multiple ''pi'' in a single phrase. However, this carries a risk of ambiguity as to whether the second ''pi'' is contained within the first or not: |
While not defined in ''[[pu]]'', some speakers do use multiple ''pi'' in a single phrase. However, this carries a risk of ambiguity as to whether the second ''pi'' is contained within the first or not: |
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:;lipu pi sona mute pi toki Inli |
:;''lipu pi sona mute pi toki Inli'' |
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::English much-knowledge book (is the book in English or is the knowledge about English?) |
::English much-knowledge book (is the book in English or is the knowledge about English?) |
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jan Lope argues that, like [[li]] and [[e]], both |
jan Lope argues that, like ''[[li]]'' and ''[[e]]'', both ''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]jan Lope, "Are multiple ''pi'' phrases possible?</ref> As an example, he gives: |
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<blockquote> |
<blockquote> |
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:;kulupu pi kalama musi pi ma Inli li pona. |
:;''kulupu pi kalama musi pi ma Inli li pona.'' |
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::The English rock band is good. |
::The English rock band is good. |
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</blockquote> |
</blockquote> |
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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 |
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 <em>want</em> it to be ambiguous so that clearer phrasing is used instead. |
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Using a single word between the ''pi'' does prevent the ambiguity, as a non-nested layout would contain an invalid single-word ''pi'' phrase. However, if you feel the need to stack this many modifiers, you might be better off rephrasing the phrase into a sentence: |
Using a single word between the ''pi'' does prevent the ambiguity, as a non-nested layout would contain an invalid single-word ''pi'' phrase. However, if you feel the need to stack this many modifiers, you might be better off rephrasing the phrase into a sentence: |
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:;kiwen pi soweli pi kute suli |
:;''kiwen pi soweli pi kute suli'' |
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::big-eared animal rock |
::big-eared animal rock |
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:;kiwen ni li sama soweli pi kute suli |
:;''kiwen ni li sama soweli pi kute suli.'' |
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:: |
::This rock is like a big-eared animal. |
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:;soweli pi kute suli li lawa e kiwen ni |
:;''soweli pi kute suli li lawa e kiwen ni.'' |
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:: |
::A big-eared animal rules over this rock. |
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== ''pi'' |
== ''pi'' is not "of" == |
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⚫ | |||
⚫ | |||
⚫ | |||
⚫ | |||
⚫ | |||
⚫ | |||
It may be more helpful to think of every modifier as having an implied "of" before it: |
It may be more helpful to think of every modifier as having an implied "of" before it: |
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:;kala utala suli |
:;''kala utala suli'' |
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::fish of fighting of bigness |
::fish <ins>of</ins> fighting <ins>of</ins> bigness |
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=== Possession === |
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A related misconception is that ''pi'' marks possession. In reality, adjectives can be interpreted as possessive with or without ''pi''. It is just about whether the possessor is referred to with more than one word. |
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:;''tomo ona'' |
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::their house |
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:;''tomo pi ona ale'' |
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::all of theirs' house |
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:;''tomo pi ona wan'' |
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::one of them's house |
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== Controversy == |
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''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]]. Avoiding ''pi'' is a common ''nasin'' called [[pin't]]. |
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== References == |
== References == |
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== External resources == |
== External resources == |
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* [[pu]] Lesson 11 |
* [[pu]] Lesson 11 |
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* [ |
* [//lipu-sona.pona.la/9.html jan Lentan Lesson 9] |
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* [ |
* [//sowelitesa.kittycat.homes/lipu-sona/6 soweli Tesa Lesson 6] |
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* [ |
* [//jonathangabel.com/toki-pona/pi/ sitelen sitelen Descriptions and Possesives] |
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* [ |
* [//github.com/kilipan/nasin-toki#the-particle-pi nasin toki pona] |
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* [ |
* [//mun.la/sona/mod-pi.html jan Kekan San Modifiers and pi] |
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[[Category:Particles]] |
[[Category:Particles]] |
Revision as of 01:10, 13 July 2023
pi is a particle used for grouping modifiers together. The resulting phrase that follows it is called a pi phrase, by analogy to prepositional phrases.
How it works
By default, each modifier applies to the whole phrase before it[1]:
- jan pona
- good person
- jan pona mute
- many good people
pi marks the next word as a new head, which takes its own modifiers.
- jan pi pona mute
- very good person
The effect can be similar to hyphenating an adjective phrase in English:
- tomo telo nasa
- strange water room (the room, perhaps a washroom, is weird)
- tomo pi telo nasa
- strange-water room (the liquid is weird; perhaps a pub)
pi needs to be followed by at least two content words: the new head and a modifier applying to it. If there would only be one word after it, you don't need the pi.
There is no way to "close" a pi phrase. Instead, modifiers that apply to the first word should be moved before the pi:
- jan pi pana sona
- knowledge-giving person (teacher)
- jan ike pi pana sona
- knowledge-giving bad person (bad teacher)
- ↑ Some analyze them as all applying to the first word instead, but the distinction often doesn't matter.
Multiple pi
While not defined in pu, some speakers do use multiple pi in a single phrase. However, this carries a risk of ambiguity as to whether the second pi is contained within the first or not:
- lipu pi sona mute pi toki Inli
- English much-knowledge book (is the book in English or is the knowledge about English?)
jan Lope argues that, like li and e, both pi phrases apply equally to the first noun in the phrase, rather than nesting.[1] As an example, he gives:
- kulupu pi kalama musi pi ma Inli li pona.
- The English rock band is good.
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.
Using a single word between the pi does prevent the ambiguity, as a non-nested layout would contain an invalid single-word pi phrase. However, if you feel the need to stack this many modifiers, you might be better off rephrasing the phrase into a sentence:
- kiwen pi soweli pi kute suli
- big-eared animal rock
- kiwen ni li sama soweli pi kute suli.
- This rock is like a big-eared animal.
- soweli pi kute suli li lawa e kiwen ni.
- A big-eared animal rules over this rock.
pi is not "of"
Some dictionaries define pi as the English word "of". This is misleading, as most senses of "of" don't translate into pi:
- toki
pipona - the language of good
- toki
It may be more helpful to think of every modifier as having an implied "of" before it:
- kala utala suli
- fish of fighting of bigness
Possession
A related misconception is that pi marks possession. In reality, adjectives can be interpreted as possessive with or without pi. It is just about whether the possessor is referred to with more than one word.
- tomo ona
- their house
- tomo pi ona ale
- all of theirs' house
- tomo pi ona wan
- one of them's house
Controversy
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 find "the phrase" for any given word. Avoiding pi is a common nasin called pin't.