tonsi: Difference between revisions

	tonsi
	Person at a pride march, wearing a nonbinary flag as a cape. In the background, another person holds a transgender flag.
Pronunciation	/ˈton.si/;
Usage	2023: Common44-category system, Widespread66-category system (83% ↘︎ )2022: Widespread (86%)
Book and era	nimi ku suli (post-pu, "honorary nimi pu")
Part of speech	Content word
Codepoint	󱥾 U+F197E

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Revision as of 20:09, 31 January 2024

tonsi is a common content word and nimi ku suli mainly relating to non-binary gender. It is coordinate with meli for femininity and mije for masculinity.

Etymology

The word tonsi is derived from Mandarin Chinese 同志 (tóngzhì, lit. "same will"), meaning "kindred spirit" or "comrade", with neologistic senses of "gay" and "queer (person)". tonsi was coined by jan inwin in 2019 as a proposal for a nimi sin for non-binary identity.^[1] It was informally voted on in a series of polls in the ma pona pi toki pona Discord server.^[2]

The semantic space of tonsi originally proposed was broader than the accepted version. It meant "break normative boundaries," and with jan would refer to nonbinary folks. tonsi was also not the original form of the word.^[3]^[4]

Semantic space

The semantic space of tonsi includes non-binary gender identity and gender non-conformity.

tonsi is also sometimes used with the broader, alternative meaning of transgender. This is contentious as some non-binary people do not identify with the trans label, and they and binary trans people may not want their specific experiences to be conflated. Due to the core definition of tonsi, describing binary trans people as meli tonsi or mije tonsi might be construed to imply that they are not fully women or men, especially as there is no coordinate term to specify cisgender meli and mije.

According to the data in the Toki Pona Dictionary, tonsi has also been used to describe intersexuality.^[5]

ku

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

non-binary person³, transgender person³, gender non-conforming person³, intersex person²

Adoption

The speaking community widely considers tonsi to be a crucial addition to Toki Pona, referring to it as an honorary nimi pu to give it equal consideration to meli and mije in spite of pu-rism. In the "Notes on lipu pu" section of the Toki Pona Dictionary, jan Sonja endorses the effort:^[6]

At this point, meli and mije have been taught. A third word, tonsi, has been created by the community of Toki Pona speakers in a grassroots project, and I support it. See the dictionary part of this book for definitions.

This does not mean that all non-binary and gender non-conforming people identify with tonsi. Beyond personal opinions about self-description with the word, some speakers also reject using tonsi by virtue of avoiding gender words altogether.

The Esperanto and German editions of the book Toki Pona: The Language of Good mention tonsi alongside the other nimi ku suli. As of the the 2023 Linku survey, tonsi is used by 1%pt. more speakers (83% of respondents) than meli or mije (each 82%).

sitelen pona

The sitelen pona glyph for tonsi in the colors of the non-binary flag

The sitelen pona glyph for tonsi (󱥾) is derived from the transgender symbol (⚧). The glyph was chosen by a poll on Reddit, decided from a total of 13 proposals.^[7]^[8] The original creator of the glyph is unknown. According to kala Asi at the time of making the poll, she encountered it and made a stylized version herself.^[9]^[10]

sitelen sitelen

The sitelen sitelen glyph for tonsi was added in 2020.^[11]^[12] It is possibly derived from the glyph for kule, with the bottom part being similar to the glyphs for meli and mije.

References

↑ jan inwin [@orsetto]. (17 July 2019). [Message posted in the #sona-musi channel in the ma pona pi toki pona Discord server]. Discord.
↑ jan inwin [@orsetto]. (18 July 2019). [Message posted in the #sona-musi channel in the ma pona pi toki pona Discord server]. Discord.

let's redo the vote between the 2
1️⃣ mapu ← Hawaiʻian māhū
2️⃣ tonsi ← Mandarin tóngzhì 同志

Option Votes

mapu 1

tonsi 5
↑ jan inwin [@orsetto]. (17 July 2019). [Message posted in the #sona-pona channel in the ma pona pi toki pona Discord server]. Discord. Retrieved 31 January 2024.

we were thinking the word could generally mean “break normative boundaries” or the like, but w words like jan it would mean nonbinary, & with meli/mije could specify trans women/men
like
pali mapu/soka(/whatever word we ultimately choise) could mean radical activism or smthg
utala soka/mapu - r e v o l u t i o n
↑ jan inwin [@orsetto]. (17 July 2019). [Message posted in the #sona-pona channel in the ma pona pi toki pona Discord server]. Discord. Retrieved 31 January 2024.

on it's own [tonsi] will mean "nonbinary/gender-non-conforming" (or even more generally, "breaking normative boundaries")
when applied to other gender words it can mean different flavors of "trans"
↑ ^5.0 ^5.1 Lang, Sonja. (18 July 2021). Toki Pona Dictionary. Illustrated by Vacon Sartirani. Tawhid. ISBN 978-0978292362. p. 381.
↑ Lang, Sonja. (18 July 2021). Toki Pona Dictionary. Illustrated by Vacon Sartirani. Tawhid. ISBN 978-0978292362. p. 6.
↑ kala Asi [u/AcipenserSturio]. (10 May 2020). "Survey: how would you rank these glyphs for "tonsi"?". Reddit. Retrieved 31 January 2024.
↑ kala Asi [u/AcipenserSturio]. (19 May 2020). "Survey results: how much people liked/disliked these glyph ideas for "tonsi" (n = 49)". Reddit. Retrieved 31 January 2024.
↑ kala Asi [@kala_asi]. (10 May 2020). [Message posted in the #toki-pona channel in the ma pona pi toki pona Discord server]. Discord.
↑ kala Asi [@kala_asi]. (10 May 2020). [Message posted in the #toki-pona channel in the ma pona pi toki pona Discord server]. Discord.
↑ Jonathan Gabel. (5 September 2021). "Designing glyphs - sitelen suwi pi nimi ku suli". jonathangabel.com. Retrieved 20 November 2023. "And tonsi was added last year".
↑ Jonathan Gabel. "Gender and Identity". jonathangabel.com. Retrieved 20 November 2023.

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 {{lipu pona
 |blurb='''{{tp|[[tonsi]]}}''' ({{sp|tonsi}}) is {{a category|tonsi}} [[content word]] and {{tp|[[nimi ku suli]]}} mainly relating to {{w|Non-binary gender|non-binary}} [[gender]]. It is coordinate with {{tp|[[meli]]}} for femininity and {{tp|[[mije]]}} for masculinity.
-}}{{nimi
+}}
+{{nimi
 | image = DC DYKE MARCH IMG 9994a (48034503686).jpg
 | alt   = Person at a pride march, wearing a nonbinary flag as a cape. In the background, another person holds a transgender flag.
@@ Line 9: / Line 10: @@
 ==Etymology==
-The word {{tp|tonsi}} is derived from {{w|Mandarin Chinese}} {{lang|zh|{{wikt|同志}}}} (''{{lang|zh-Latn|tóngzhì}}'', lit. "same will"), meaning "kindred spirit" or "comrade", with neologistic senses of "gay" and "queer (person)". {{tp|tonsi}} was coined by {{tok|jan inwin}} in 2019 as a proposal for a {{tp|[[nimi sin]]}} for non-binary identity.<ref>{{cite Discord|name={{tok|jan inwin}}|username=orsetto|url=//discord.com/channels/301377942062366741/375591429608570881/600881974172712962|channel={{tok|sona-musi}}|server={{tp|ma pona pi toki pona}}}}</ref> It was informally voted on in a series of polls in the {{tp|[[ma pona pi toki pona]]}} Discord server.<ref name="inwin2019"/>
+The word {{tp|tonsi}} is derived from {{w|Mandarin Chinese}} {{lang|zh|{{wikt|同志}}}} (''{{lang|zh-Latn|tóngzhì}}'', lit. "same will"), meaning "kindred spirit" or "comrade", with neologistic senses of "gay" and "queer (person)". {{tp|tonsi}} was coined by {{tok|jan inwin}} in 2019 as a proposal for a {{tp|[[nimi sin]]}} for non-binary identity.<ref>{{cite Discord|name={{tok|jan inwin}}|username=orsetto|url=//discord.com/channels/301377942062366741/375591429608570881/600881974172712962|channel={{tok|sona-musi}}|server={{tp|ma pona pi toki pona}}}}</ref> It was informally voted on in a series of polls in the {{tp|[[ma pona pi toki pona]]}} Discord server.<ref name="inwin2019a"/>
+The semantic space of {{tp|tonsi}} originally proposed was broader than the accepted version. It meant "break normative boundaries," and with {{tp|[[jan]]}} would refer to nonbinary folks. {{tp|tonsi}} was also not the original form of the word.<ref name="inwin2019b"/><ref name="inwin2019c"/>
 ==Semantic space==
@@ Line 23: / Line 26: @@
 {{ku data}}
-==Origin==
-{{Historical}}
-The semantic space of {{tp|tonsi}} originally proposed was broader than the accepted version. It meant "break normative boundaries," and with {{tp|[[jan]]}} would refer to nonbinary folks.<ref>{{cite Discord|author=jan inwin|username=orsetto|date=2019-07-16|url=https://discord.com/channels/301377942062366741/375591429608570881/600857762561523732|server=ma pona pi toki pona|channel=sona-pona}}<blockquote>we were thinking the word could generally mean “break normative boundaries” or the like, but w words like jan it would mean nonbinary, & with meli/mije could specify trans women/men<br/>
-like<br/>
-pali mapu/soka(/whatever word we ultimately choise) could mean radical activism or smthg<br/>
-utala soka/mapu - r e v o l u t i o n</blockquote></ref><ref>{{cite Discord|channel=sona-pona|server=ma pona pi toki pona|date=2019-07-16|author=jan inwin|username=orsetto|url=https://discord.com/channels/301377942062366741/375591429608570881/600882993938300938}}<blockquote>on it's own it will mean "nonbinary/gender-non-conforming" (or even more generally, "breaking normative boundaries")<br/>
-when applied to other gender words it can mean different flavors of "trans"</ref> {{tp|tonsi}} was also not the original form of the word. Other proposals included:
-<blockquote>
-* {{tp|ateka}} ← Irish *aiteach* "queer, LGBT+"
-* {{tp|maku}} ← Hawaiʻian *māhū* "gender-non-conforming, trans"
-* {{tp|mapu}} ← see ^
-* {{tp|netuma}} ← Esperanto *neduuma* "nonbinary"
-* {{tp|oju}} ← Welsh *hoyw* "happy, jolly → gay"
-* {{tp|pawasi}} ← Sanskrit *Pārvatī* पार्वती , a deity who makes up the composite androgynous deity *Ardhanārīśvara* अर्धनारीश्वर
-* {{tp|siwa}} ← Sanskrit *Śiva* शिव, see ^
-* {{tp|soka}} ← Swahili *shoga* "gay/effeminate," sometimes used to refer to a distinct gender category (particular in Kenya)
-* {{tp|wino}} ← Finnish *vino* "askew, oblique; queer, LGBT+"<ref>{{cite Discord|author=jan inwin|username=orsetto|date=2019-07-16|url=https://discord.com/channels/301377942062366741/375591429608570881/600905187770499084|server=ma pona pi toki pona|channel=sona-musi|urldate=2024-01-30}}</ref>
-</blockquote>
 ==Adoption==
 The speaking community widely considers {{tp|tonsi}} to be a crucial addition to [[Toki Pona]], referring to it as an honorary {{tp|[[nimi pu]]}} to give it equal consideration to {{tp|meli}} and {{tp|mije}} in spite of [[pu-rism|{{tp|pu}}-rism]]. In the "Notes on {{tp|lipu pu}}" section of the ''[[Toki Pona Dictionary]]'', {{tok|[[jan Sonja]]}} endorses the effort:<ref>{{cite ku|6}}</ref>
@@ Line 65: / Line 50: @@
 ==References==
 <references>
-  <ref name="inwin2019">{{cite Discord|name={{tok|jan inwin}}|username=orsetto|url=//discord.com/channels/301377942062366741/375591429608570881/601234123763482626|channel={{tok|sona-musi}}|server={{tp|ma pona pi toki pona}}}}
+  <ref name="inwin2019a">{{cite Discord|name={{tok|jan inwin}}|username=orsetto|url=//discord.com/channels/301377942062366741/375591429608570881/601234123763482626|channel={{tok|sona-musi}}|server={{tp|ma pona pi toki pona}}}}
 <blockquote><poem>
 let's redo the vote between the 2
@@ Line 83: / Line 68: @@
 |}
 </ref>
+  <ref name="inwin2019b">{{cite Discord|url=https://discord.com/channels/301377942062366741/375591429608570881/600857762561523732|author={{tok|jan inwin}}|username=orsetto||channel={{tok|sona-pona}}|server={{tp|ma pona pi toki pona}}|access-date=2024-01-31}}
-  <ref name="asi2020a">{{tok|[[kala Asi]]}} [u/AcipenserSturio] (10 May 2020). [https://www.reddit.com/r/tokipona/comments/gh7275/survey_how_would_you_rank_these_glyphs_for_tonsi/ "Survey: how would you rank these glyphs for "tonsi"?"]. ''Reddit''. Retrieved 9 October 2023.</ref>
+<blockquote><poem>
-  <ref name="asi2020b">{{tok|kala Asi}} [u/AcipenserSturio] (19 May 2020). [https://www.reddit.com/r/tokipona/comments/gmhzgg/survey_results_how_much_people_likeddisliked/ "Survey results: how much people liked/disliked these glyph ideas for "tonsi" (n = 49)"]. ''Reddit''. Retrieved 9 October 2023.</ref>
+we were thinking the word could generally mean “break normative boundaries” or the like, but w words like {{tok|jan}} it would mean nonbinary, & with {{tok|meli}}/{{tok|mije}} could specify trans women/men
+like
+{{tok|pali mapu}}/{{tok|soka}}(/whatever word we ultimately choise) could mean radical activism or smthg
+{{tok|utala soka}}/{{tok|mapu}} - r e v o l u t i o n
+</poem></blockquote>
+</ref>
+  <ref name="inwin2019c">{{cite Discord|url=https://discord.com/channels/301377942062366741/375591429608570881/600882993938300938|author={{tok|jan inwin}}|username=orsetto||channel={{tok|sona-pona}}|server={{tp|ma pona pi toki pona}}|access-date=2024-01-31}}
+<blockquote><poem>
+on it's own [{{tok|tonsi}}] will mean "nonbinary/gender-non-conforming" (or even more generally, "breaking normative boundaries")
+when applied to other gender words it can mean different flavors of "trans"
+</poem></blockquote>
+</ref>
+  <ref name="asi2020a">{{cite web|url=https://www.reddit.com/r/tokipona/comments/gh7275/survey_how_would_you_rank_these_glyphs_for_tonsi/|title=Survey: how would you rank these glyphs for "tonsi"?|website=Reddit|author={{tok|[[kala Asi]]}}|username=u/AcipenserSturio|date=2020-05-10||access-date=2024-01-31}}</ref>
+  <ref name="asi2020b">{{cite web|url=https://www.reddit.com/r/tokipona/comments/gmhzgg/survey_results_how_much_people_likeddisliked/|title=Survey results: how much people liked/disliked these glyph ideas for "tonsi" (n = 49)|website=Reddit|author={{tok|[[kala Asi]]}}|username=u/AcipenserSturio|date=2020-05-19||access-date=2024-01-31}}</ref>
   <ref name="asi2020c">{{cite Discord|name={{tok|kala Asi}}|username=kala_asi|url=https://discord.com/channels/301377942062366741/301377942062366741/708990800658300948|channel={{tok|toki-pona}}|server={{tp|ma pona pi toki pona}}}}</ref>
   <ref name="asi2020d">{{cite Discord|name={{tok|kala Asi}}|username=kala_asi|url=https://discord.com/channels/301377942062366741/301377942062366741/708992721536417812|channel={{tok|toki-pona}}|server={{tp|ma pona pi toki pona}}}}</ref>

Words
Parts of speech	Content words (Roles · Prepositions · Preverbs · Names · Numbers) · Particles (Semiparticles) · Interjections
Usage	Book presence (nimi pu · nimi ku) · Eras (pre-pu · post-pu · post-ku) · Usage categories · nimi sin · Synonyms · Reserved words · Place and language names
Core words	a · akesi · ala · alasa · ale / ali · anpa · ante · anu · awen · e · en · esun · ijo · ike · ilo · insa · jaki · jan · jelo · jo · kala · kalama · kama · kasi · ken · kepeken · kili · kiwen · ko · kon · kule · kulupu · kute · la · lape · laso · lawa · len · lete · li · lili · linja · lipu · loje · lon · luka · lukin · lupa · ma · mama · mani · mi · moku · moli · monsi · mu · mun · musi · mute · nanpa · nasa · nasin · nena · ni · nimi · noka · o · olin · ona · open · pakala · pali · palisa · pan · pana · pi · pilin · pimeja · pini · pipi · poka · poki · pona · pu · sama · seli · selo · seme · sewi · sijelo · sike · sin · sina · sinpin · sitelen · sona · soweli · suli · suno · supa · suwi · tan · taso · tawa · telo · tenpo · toki · tomo · tu · unpa · uta · utala · walo · wan · waso · wawa · weka · wile
Common words	kijetesantakalu · kin · kipisi · ku · leko · meli · mije · misikeke · monsuta · n · namako · soko · tonsi
Uncommon words	epiku · jasima · kokosila · lanpan · linluwi · majuna · meso · nimisin · oko
Resources	Dictionaries · Glossary · Cognates · Glosses · Minimal pairs

Option	Votes
mapu	1
tonsi	5