Words and meaning: Semantic Fields

• Semantic Field: One of the ways language can construct meaning; it operates by assigning each word a broad concept that can be narrowed down by using other words.

Head and Modifier(s)

• Head word: Main concept of a segment of text that fulfills a function in a sentence.
• Modifer(s): Words that come after the head to narrow down what we're talking about. The closer a modifier is to the head noun, the more relevant it is to its definition.

examples

• soweli - land mammal
• soweli tomo - animal of the house - pet
• soweli tawa tomo - running animal of the house - pet horse

Loan words, including names, act as modifiers and thus come after the head noun; for example:

• musi Likalesen = "game League of Legends"
• ma Kanata = "land Canada"
• jan Misali = "person Mitch Halley"

Basic syntax: Subject, predicate, direct object

Intransitive predicates: [subject] [(li) predicate]

• Subject: The "main character" who executes or is described by the predicate
• Predicate: That which describes what the Subject is or is doing
• li: Particle that marks the beginning of a predicate in toki pona

Examples

• soweli li suli - The creature is large
• jan sona li toki pona - The wise person speaks well

If the subject is mi or sina as standalone words, the particle li is ommitted, leaving us with: [mi/sina][(li) predicate]

• mi lili - I am young

Transitive predicates: [subject] [(li) predicate {(e) direct object}]

• Direct Object: Orients the action expressed in the predicate
• e: Particle that marks the beginning of a direct object fragment in toki pona

Example

• ona li pali e sitelen - They are making an image - they are painting a picture

sitelen acts as a compass for the action pali, it tells us what it's directed towards.

Negation

• ala: Word with a particle function of turning a fragment negative, and a content function meaning nothing, zero, not-

ala negates the concept that comes before it, not those after

• {mi} ala li kute e musi - It wasn't me who heard the song.
• mi {kute} ala e musi - I'm not hearing a song.
• mi kute e {musi} ala - I heard something that wasn't a song.

Modifier phrases: the particle pi

• pi: Particle that indicates the beginning of a modifier phrase

One can use phrases as modifiers for a head noun instead of single content words.

Modifier phrases are not predicates, and they can't contain a direct object, so the particles li and e will not appear in them

• mun seli pi (suno wawa) - Burning star which emits a great shine
• mun seli wawa - Powerful burning star

Prepositions

• Preposition: Word that indicates the beginning of a fragment which clarifies the context of the action in a predicate; if the action does not need an object, they can be used as actions themselves in the predicate

Prepositional words

• lon: location indicator; can also express that something is true or real
• tawa: direction indicator; can also express movement
• tan: causation indicator; can also express purpose
• kepeken: means indicator; marks the tools used to perform the action
• sama: association indicator; expresses that a thing is the same or alike to something else

Prepositions can only be used as content words in pi modifiers, not as context for an action

Examples

• sina toki lon (ilo) Siko - You talk on Discord
• mama mi tawa (ma) Tosi - My parents are going to Germany
• kasi li moli tan (kon lete) - The plants are dead because of the cold air
• mi pali e tomo kepeken (kiwen) - I built the house using stone

Negation of the context is done by adding ala after the preposition, not the whole segment

• sona li {sama} ala pali - Knowing isn't the same as doing

Preverbs

• Preverb: Word that acts as a modifier for the action taking place in the predicate; they always come before the predicate content

Preverb words

• wile: indicates a need for or a desire to do the predicate; it also means will, desire (noun) when standalone
• sona: indicate knowledge about/knowledge on performing the predicate content; it also means knowledge when standalone
• awen: indicates a resting, continuous or repeating state
• kama: indicates a change of state; it also means to come when standalone
• ken: indicates the material ability to do or be the predicate
• lukin: indicates an attempt or intention to perform the predicate; it means to look, to perceive when standalone

Examples

• jan li wile moku - humans need to eat
• akesi li wile lape lon (kiwen seli) - the lizard wants to sleep on a warm rock
• waso kala li sona tawa telo - Penguins know how to swim
• o awen lon (supa) - Please, remain seated
• jan lili li kama sona e toki - The child is becoming knowledgeable about speaking - The child is learning how to speak
• waso li lukin alasa e pipi linja - The bird is trying to hunt a worm

As with prepositions, the negation of a preverb goes directly after the word and not after the compound of preverb-predicate

sina {ken} ala open e seli - You are not allowed to start a fire