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{{tp title|pi}} |
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'''pin't''' is a common ''[[nasin]]'' that avoids the phrasal-modifier-grouping [[particle]] ''[[pi]]''. |
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'''{{tp|pi}}n't''' is a common {{tp|[[nasin]]}} that avoids the phrasal-modifier-grouping [[particle]] {{tp|[[pi]]}}. |
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To most users, |
To most users, {{tp|pi}}n't involves restructuring sentences to compensate for the loss of {{tp|pi}}, so it generally does not change [[Toki Pona]] grammar. |
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==Motivations== |
==Motivations== |
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'''(This is REAL Grammar, done by REAL Tokiponists)''': |
'''(This is REAL Grammar, done by REAL Tokiponists)''': |
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Is <code>A</code> |
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>)]? |
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'''They have played us for absolute fools''' |
'''They have played us for absolute fools''' |
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</center></div></div></div> |
</center></div></div></div> |
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There are many perceived issues with |
There are many perceived issues with {{tp|pi}}: |
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===Complexity=== |
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* ''pi'' adds complexity and makes understanding a more demanding task. Longer phrases with multiple modifiers already make it more difficult for listeners to keep up, compared to [[Multiple sentences|using full sentences]], and only describe loose relationships between the head and the modifier. Adding ''pi'' increases the complexity exponentially. |
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{{tp|pi}} adds complexity and makes understanding a more demanding task. Longer phrases with multiple modifiers already make it more difficult for listeners to keep up, compared to [[Multiple sentences|using full sentences]], and only describe loose relationships between the head and the modifier. Adding {{tp|pi}} increases the complexity exponentially. |
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* ''pi'' is misleading and difficult to explain. Learners who encounter ''pi'' are prone to extend it to proscribed uses, like assuming that it means "of", marks possession, has some other [[semantic (value)|semantic value]], or can be used in ungrammatical positions. Correcting them requires vigilance and very specific explanations. |
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*: Even ''pi''<nowiki />'s etymology (from Tok Pisin ''bilong'', from English ''belong'') is misleading about its current, non-possessive use. |
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===Misleadingness=== |
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* ''pi'' encourages translating concepts as [[Lexicalization|set phrases]] without any clarifying grammatical particles, instead of choosing phrases dynamically from [[context]] and [[Circumlocution|describing concepts]] in [[Multiple sentences|as many sentences as needed]]. |
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{{tp|pi}} is misleading and difficult to explain. Learners who encounter {{tp|pi}} are prone to extend it to proscribed uses, like assuming that it means "of", marks possession, has some other [[semantic (value)|semantic value]], or can be used in ungrammatical positions. Correcting them requires vigilance and very specific explanations. |
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*: Particles like ''[[li]]'', ''[[e]]'', and ''[[la]]'' are crucial to understanding the role of concepts in a sentence. They are not allowed in ''pi'' phrases because they have higher priority than ''pi'' in marking sentence structure. This can be fixed by splitting the noun phrase into a new sentence and replacing ''pi'' with ''li'': |
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{{Indent|Even {{tp|pi}}<nowiki />'s etymology (from Tok Pisin {{tp|bilong}}, from English {{tp|belong}}) is misleading about its current, non-possessive use.}} |
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*::; ''*jan <del>pi</del> sona e ma li pona.'' |
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*::: ''*pi sona e ma'' is ungrammatical. This sentence could also be corrected to ''jan sona li pona e ma'', which has a completely different meaning. |
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===Effects on grammar=== |
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*::; ''jan <ins>li</ins> sona e ma li pona.'' |
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{{tp|pi}} encourages translating concepts as [[Lexicalization|set phrases]] without any clarifying grammatical particles, instead of choosing phrases dynamically from [[context]] and [[Circumlocution|describing concepts]] in [[Multiple sentences|as many sentences as needed]]. |
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*::: ''li sona e ma'' is grammatical. |
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* ''pi'' creates unpleasant grammar. Slightly "advanced" uses of ''pi'' rapidly overcomplicate the grammar and create ambiguities. |
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Particles like {{tp|[[li]]}}, {{tp|[[e]]}}, and {{tp|[[la]]}} are crucial to understanding the role of concepts in a sentence. They are not allowed in {{tp|pi}} phrases because they have higher priority than {{tp|pi}} in marking sentence structure. This can be fixed by splitting the noun phrase into a new sentence and replacing {{tp|pi}} with {{tp|li}}. |
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*: Even among ''pi'' users, there is deliberately no consensus on some issues, like whether multiple ''pi'' have a flat or nested structure, to encourage people to use more pleasant methods of phrasing. |
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{{Example|*jan <del>pi</del> sona e ma li pona.|{{tp|*pi sona e ma}} is ungrammatical. This sentence could also be corrected to {{tp|jan sona li pona e ma}}, which has a completely different meaning.}} |
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* ''pi'' feels too engineered for Toki Pona's natural design, and so it is aesthetically unpleasant and demands extra mental overhead. |
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{{Example|jan <ins>li</ins> sona e ma li pona.|{{tp|li sona e ma}} is grammatical.}} |
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** The way that ''pi'' requires a preceding head and at least two following words is overcomplicated, and harder to adjust to than the other particles. |
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** ''pi'' is highly sensitive to changes outside its phrase, and from several words away. Minor changes to a sentence can make a ''pi'' phrase ungrammatical. |
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{{tp|pi}} itself creates unpleasant grammar. Slightly "advanced" uses of {{tp|pi}} rapidly overcomplicate the grammar and create ambiguities. |
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** ''pi'' also feels like a "spoken bracket" that is common in engineered languages, demanding speakers to keep track of nested phrases like <code>push</code>ing and <code>pop</code>ping a [[wikipedia:Stack (abstract data type|stack]]. |
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{{Indent|Even among {{tp|pi}} users, there is deliberately no consensus on some issues, like whether multiple {{tp|pi}} have a flat or nested structure, to encourage people to use more pleasant methods of phrasing.}} |
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* ''pi'' can be confused for the mathematical constant 𝜋, and some speakers are [[nanpan't]] or [[wikipedia:Tau (mathematical constant)|tauist]]. |
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===Engineered-ness=== |
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{{tp|pi}} feels too engineered for Toki Pona's natural design, and so it is aesthetically unpleasant and demands extra mental overhead. |
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The way that {{tp|pi}} requires a preceding head and at least two following words is overcomplicated, and harder to adjust to than the other particles. |
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{{tp|pi}} is highly sensitive to changes outside its phrase, and from several words away. Minor changes to a sentence can make a {{tp|pi}} phrase ungrammatical. |
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{{tp|pi}} also feels like a "spoken bracket" that is common in engineered languages, demanding speakers to keep track of nested phrases like <code>push</code>ing and <code>pop</code>ping a [[wikipedia:Stack (abstract data type|stack]]. |
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===<var>π</var>=== |
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{{tp|pi}} can be confused for the mathematical constant 𝜋, and some speakers are [[nanpan't]] or [[wikipedia:Tau (mathematical constant)|tauist]]. |
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===For fun=== |
===For fun=== |
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For some speakers, |
For some speakers, {{tp|pi}}n't is a [[Constrained writing|constrained writing]] challenge or a way to creatively further reduce the language. |
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==Strategies== |
==Strategies== |
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=== |
==={{tp|pi}} dropping=== |
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In some cases, |
In some cases, {{tp|pi}} can just be dropped with no substantive change in meaning. |
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{{Example|lipu <del>pi</del> mute ala|not many books}} |
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{{Example|lipu mute ala|not many books}} |
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---- |
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:;''lipu <del>pi</del> mute ala'' |
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{{Nonstandard}} |
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::not many books |
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Some speakers like to drop {{tp|pi}} in other cases as long as the meaning is still easy enough to guess, such as {{tp|tomo <del>pi</del> jan Epawan}}. This is fairly nonstandard. |
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:;''lipu mute ala'' |
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::not many books |
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Some speakers like to drop ''pi'' in other cases as long as the meaning is still easy enough to guess, such as ''tomo <del>pi</del> jan Epawan''. This is fairly nonstandard. |
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===Prepositions=== |
===Prepositions=== |
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Replacing |
Replacing {{tp|pi}} with a [[preposition]] can clarify meaning. Prepositions have [[semantic (value)|semantic value]], while {{tp|pi}}, as a [[particle]], does not. |
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{{Example|kiwen <del>pi</del> kasi suli|hard thing <del>with <em>any</em> relation to</del> large plants}} |
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{{Example|kiwen <ins>lon</ins> kasi suli|hard thing <ins>at, in, or on</ins> large plants (perhaps bark, a rock in the woods, a bramble's thorn)}} |
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:;''kiwen <del>pi</del> kasi suli'' |
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{{Example|kiwen <ins>tan</ins> kasi suli|hard thing <ins>from</ins> large plants (perhaps peeled bark, timber, tree nuts, branches or roots, a fallen apple)}} |
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::hard thing <del>with <em>any</em> relation to</del> large plants |
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{{Example|kiwen <ins>tawa</ins> kasi suli|hard thing <ins>toward</ins> large plants (perhaps an axe, a barrier that plants cannot penetrate)}} |
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:;''kiwen <ins>lon</ins> kasi suli'' |
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{{Example|kiwen <ins>sama</ins> kasi suli|hard thing <ins>similar to</ins> large plants (perhaps faux wood, a plastic artificial plant, a large post)}} |
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:;''kiwen <ins>tan</ins> kasi suli'' |
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::hard thing <ins>from</ins> large plants (perhaps peeled bark, timber, tree nuts, branches or roots, a fallen apple) |
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:;''kiwen <ins>tawa</ins> kasi suli'' |
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::hard thing <ins>toward</ins> large plants (perhaps an axe, a barrier that plants cannot penetrate) |
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:;''kiwen <ins>sama</ins> kasi suli'' |
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::hard thing <ins>similar to</ins> large plants (perhaps faux wood, a plastic artificial plant, a large post) |
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===Possession=== |
===Possession=== |
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There are several ways to phrase multi-word possessives without pi. |
There are several ways to phrase multi-word possessives without pi. |
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{{Example|ni li musi <del>pi</del> jan Epawan.|This is Abraham's art ~ game. (This provokes the similar, but now ungrammatical, {{tp|1=*<u>musi ni li</u> <span style="opacity:0.5;">∅</span> pi jan Epawan.}})}} |
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{{Example|ni li musi <ins>tan</ins> jan Epawan.|This is art ~ a game <ins>by</ins> Abraham. ({{tp|<u>musi ni li</u> tan jan Epawan.}} remains grammatical.)}} |
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:;''ni li musi <del>pi</del> jan Epawan.'' |
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{{Example|jan Epawan <ins>li jo e</ins> musi ni.|Abraham <ins>owns</ins> this art ~ game.}} |
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::This is Abraham's art ~ game. (This provokes the similar, but now ungrammatical, ''*<u>musi ni li</u> <span style="opacity:0.5;">∅</span> pi jan Epawan.'') |
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{{Example|jan Epawan <ins>la</ins> ni li musi <ins>ona</ins>.|<ins>As for</ins> Abraham, this is <ins>their</ins> art ~ game.}} |
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:;''ni li musi <ins>tan</ins> jan Epawan.'' |
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{{Example|jan Epawan <ins>la</ins> musi ni li <ins>jo ona</ins>.|<ins>As for</ins> Abraham, this art ~ game <ins>is their property</ins>.}} |
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::This is art ~ a game <ins>by</ins> Abraham. (''<u>musi ni li</u> tan jan Epawan.'' remains grammatical.) |
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:;''jan Epawan <ins>li jo e</ins> musi ni.'' |
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::Abraham <ins>owns</ins> this art ~ game. |
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:;''jan Epawan <ins>la</ins> ni li musi <ins>ona</ins>.'' |
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::<ins>As for</ins> Abraham, this is <ins>their</ins> art ~ game. |
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:;''jan Epawan <ins>la</ins> musi ni li <ins>jo ona</ins>.'' |
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::<ins>As for</ins> Abraham, this art ~ game <ins>is their property</ins>. |
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===Predicate or sentence splitting=== |
===Predicate or sentence splitting=== |
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Sometimes |
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. |
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{{Example|jan <del>pi</del> kama sona li wile e nasin sin.|Learning people want new methods.}} |
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:;''jan <del>pi</del> kama sona li wile e nasin sin.'' |
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::Learning people want new methods. |
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{| |
{| |
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|style="padding-right:1em;"| |
|style="padding-right:1em;"| |
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{{Example|jan li kama sona li wile e nasin sin.|People learn and want new methods.}} |
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{{Example|jan li kama sona la ona li wile e nasin sin.|As people learn they want new methods.}} |
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:;''jan li kama sona la ona li wile e nasin sin.'' |
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::As people learn they want new methods. |
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|style="border-left:1px solid currentColor;padding-left:1em;"|(People in general, or only some people? Granted, this can be clear in [[context]].) |
|style="border-left:1px solid currentColor;padding-left:1em;"|(People in general, or only some people? Granted, this can be clear in [[context]].) |
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|} |
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{{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}}.)}} |
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::Some people learn. These people want new methods. (The "some" is clarified by the later ''ni''.) |
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The obscure particle ''[[ki]]'' has also been suggested for this purpose, but many speakers dislike the idea of a [[wikipedia:Relative clause|relative clause]] marker in Toki Pona and prefer using cross-sentence ''[[ni]]'' for [[recursion]]. |
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The obscure particle {{tp|[[ki]]}} has also been suggested for this purpose, but many speakers dislike the idea of a [[wikipedia:Relative clause|relative clause]] marker in Toki Pona and prefer using cross-sentence {{tp|[[ni]]}} for [[recursion]]. |
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Replacing ''pi'' with ''li'' can present opportunities to clarify the words' roles with particles, or get rid of unneeded information in the head phrase before ''pi'': |
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Replacing {{tp|pi}} with {{tp|li}} can present opportunities to clarify the words' roles with particles, or get rid of unneeded information in the head phrase before {{tp|pi}}: |
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:;''mi jan <del>pi</del> pana sona.'' |
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{{Example|mi jan <del>pi</del> pana sona.|I'm a knowledge-giving person.}} |
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{{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 … li …}} is debated.)}} |
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{{Example|<del>mi jan.</del> <ins>mi</ins> pana e sona.|<del>I'm a person.</del> <ins>I</ins> give knowledge.}} |
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::I'm a person <ins><del>and</del></ins> I give knowledge. (The grammaticality and clarity of ''mi … li …'' is debated.) |
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{{Example|mi pana e sona.|I give knowledge. (Since I am speaking, you can tell from context that I'm probably a person.)}} |
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:;''<del>mi jan.</del> <ins>mi</ins> pana e sona.'' |
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::<del>I'm a person.</del> <ins>I</ins> give knowledge. |
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:;''mi pana e sona.'' |
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::I give knowledge. (Since I am speaking, you can tell from context that I'm probably a person.) |
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Or it can clarify what the |
Or it can clarify what the {{tp|pi}} applied to when this is ambiguous, such as a possible preposition… within? before?… the head phrase. |
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===Just rephrasing the whole sentence=== |
===Just rephrasing the whole sentence=== |
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Sometimes a sentence with |
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. |
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[[Category:Styles of toki pona]] |
[[Category:Styles of toki pona]] |