pin't: Difference between revisions

To most users, pin{{tp|pi}}n't involves restructuring sentences to compensate for the loss of ''{{tp|pi''}}, so it generally does not change [[Toki Pona]] grammar.

Is <code>A</code> ''{{tp|pi''}} <code>B</code> <code>C</code> ''{{tp|pi''}} <code>D</code> <code>E</code><br /><code>A</code> (''{{tp|pi''}} <code>B</code> <code>C</code>) (''{{tp|pi''}} <code>D</code> <code>E</code>)<br />or <code>A</code> [''{{tp|pi''}} <code>B</code> <code>C</code> (''{{tp|pi''}} <code>D</code> <code>E</code>)]?

There are many perceived issues with ''{{tp|pi''}}:

For some speakers, pin{{tp|pi}}n't is a [[Constrained writing|constrained writing]] challenge or a way to creatively further reduce the language.

===''{{tp|pi''}} dropping===

In some cases, ''{{tp|pi''}} can just be dropped with no substantive change in meaning.

Replacing ''{{tp|pi''}} with a [[preposition]] can clarify meaning. Prepositions have [[semantic (value)|semantic value]], while ''{{tp|pi''}}, as a [[particle]], does not.

::{{Example|kiwen <ins>sama</ins> kasi suli|hard thing <ins>at,similar in, or onto</ins> large plants (perhaps barkfaux wood, a rockplastic inartificial the woodsplant, a bramble'slarge thornpost)}}

Sometimes ''{{tp|pi''}} can be replaced with ''{{tp|[[li]]''}}. The subject and new predicate might be split into a ''{{tp|[[la]]''}} phrase or new sentence, for clarity as to what the original predicate applies to.

:;''{{Example|jan li kama sona li wile e nasin sin.''|People learn and want new methods.}}

::People{{Example|jan li kama sona la ona li wile e nasin sin.|As people learn andthey want new methods.}}

:;''{{Example|jan li kama sona. jan ni li wile e nasin sin.''|Some people learn. These people want new methods. (The "some" is clarified by the later {{tp|ni}}.)}}

::{{Example|mi jan <del>pi</del> pana sona.|I'm a knowledge-giving person.}}

:;''{{Example|mi jan <ins><del>li</del></ins> pana <ins>e</ins> sona.|I''m a person <ins><del>and</del></ins> I give knowledge. (The grammaticality and clarity of {{tp|mi &hellip; li &hellip;}} is debated.)}}

Or it can clarify what the ''{{tp|pi''}} applied to when this is ambiguous, such as a possible preposition&hellip; within? before?&hellip; the head phrase.

Sometimes a sentence with ''{{tp|pi''}} is a lost cause, and it's easier to think of a completely different way to phrase the sentence from scratch than to try to salvage it.