tonsi: Difference between revisions

'''{{tp|tonsi}}''' is a [[post-pu|post-{{tp|pu}}]] word mainly relating to {{w|non-binary gender}}, coordinate with {{tp|[[meli]]}} for femininity and {{tp|[[mije]]}} for masculinity. It was coined in 2019 by {{tok|jan inwin}}.<ref name="inwin2019">{{tok|jan inwin}} (@orsetto) (17 July 2019). [//discord.com/channels/301377942062366741/375591429608570881/600881974172712962 Message posted on the <code>#{{tok|sona-musi}}</code> channel in the {{tp|ma pona pi toki pona}} Discord server]. ''Discord''.</ref>

The word {{tp|tonsi}} is derived from {{w|Mandarin Chinese}} {{lang|zh|{{wt|同志}}}} (''{{lang|zh-Latn|tóngzhì}}''), originally meaning "comrade" as in a member of the {{w|Communist party}}, but nowadays also used to mean a member of the {{w|LGBT community}}. The word was coined by {{tok|jan inwin}} on 17 January 2019 as a proposal for a {{tp|[[nimi sin]]}} for non-binary gender.<ref name="inwin2019"/> It was informally voted on in a series of polls in the {{tp|[[ma pona pi toki pona]]}} Discord server.<ref>{{tok|jan inwin}} (@orsetto) (18 July 2019). [//discord.com/channels/301377942062366741/375591429608570881/601234123763482626 Message posted on the <code>#{{tok|sona-musi}}</code> channel in the {{tp|ma pona pi toki pona}} Discord server]. ''Discord''.

2️⃣ '''{{tp|tonsi}}''' ← Mandarin ''{{lang|zh|tóngzhì}}'' {{lang|zh|同志}}

{{tp|tonsi}} generally means non-binary or {{w|gender-nonconforming}}.

Some speakers use {{tp|tonsi}} with the alternative meaning of {{w|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 experiences to be conflated. Due to the core definition of {{tp|tonsi}}, describing binary trans people as {{tp|meli tonsi}} or {{tp|mije tonsi}} might be construed to imply that they are not fully women or men, especially as there is no coordinate term to specify {{w|cisgender}} {{tp|meli}} and {{tp|mije}}.

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>

This is not to say that all non-binary and gender-nonconforming people identify with {{tp|tonsi}}. Beyond personal opinions on the word, some speakers don't use {{tp|tonsi}} by virtue of [[gendern't|avoiding gender words altogether]].

The {{tp|sitelen pona}} glyph for {{tp|tonsi}} was derived from the {{w|transgender symbol}}. The glyph was chosen by a poll on Reddit, decided from a total of 13 proposal.<ref>{{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><ref>{{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> The original creator of the glyph is unknown. According to {{tok|kala Asi}} at the time of making the poll, she encountered it and made a stylized version herself.<ref>{{tok|kala Asi}} (@kala_asi) (10 May 2020). [https://discord.com/channels/301377942062366741/301377942062366741/708990800658300948 Message posted on the <code>#{{tok|toki-pona}}</code> channel in the {{tp|ma pona pi toki pona}} Discord server]. ''Discord''.</ref><ref>{{tok|kala Asi}} (@kala_asi) (10 May 2020). [https://discord.com/channels/301377942062366741/301377942062366741/708992721536417812 Message posted on the <code>#{{tok|toki-pona}}</code> channel in the {{tp|ma pona pi toki pona}} Discord server]. ''Discord''.</ref>