Punctuation
? ends questions, including multisentence ones and nonsentential ones
sina tan seme? Where are you from?
sina sona ala sona e ni: jan Mawi li unpa e jan Tan.-? Did you know that Mary is sleeping with Tom.
: used mainly with 'ni', it introduces following text which is officially the referent of that 'ni'. This following text, to the final '-' is a part of the sentence containing the 'ni' and constitutes a display. The final punctuation - after the '-' is for that sentence.
mi sona e ni: jan Tan li pilin pona-. I know that Tom is happy.
' ' Surround an utterance to make it a proper adjective to some speech word, as a report or for discussion. Also surrounds direct quotations as displays.
nimi 'e' li nimi lili The word "e" is a small word.
jan li toki e toki 'mi wile weka. o mi mute li tawa'. The man said, "I want to leave. Let's go".
jan li toki e ni: "mi wile tawa tomo'. The persono said "I want to go home'
nimi mi li 'Kipo'.
! Ends exclamations.
a! Ouch! (or some other such)
sina! You! (Out of all the lousy gin-joints in this lousy world look who has to come into mine, say)
, No fixed use but available to clarify confusing constructions by indicating principal parts (end of 'pi', break between a noun phrase and a new modifier.)
jan pi ma Asina pona, mute li tawa noka wawa, tawa telo Many men of beautiful Athens ran to the well. (as opposed to "A very beautiful Athenian ran wetly away.")
The most common problem a comma might solve (and the corresponding break in the speech flow) is the line between VP and PP at the end of a sentence. The significant ambiguity of 'ona li pana e sitelen tawa mi' and countless similar cases recommend this addition, but it is not regularly used.
Another, probably rare case, is when 'la' phrases group left rather than right, to indicate the end off the reverse grouping. (no known examples).
In pu a comma is used to end a 'la' condition, placed before the 'la' (though the spoken version almost certainly has its break -- if any -- after the 'la').
"" Surround no-tp expressions in the same way as single quotes surround tp expressions.
- marks the end of a display, after the punctuation of the last sentence and before the punctuation of the matrix sentence. New and not yet regularly used.
; Replaces period for sentences in displays
Also used sometimes to join two parts of a sentence with a restrictive relative clause, the restrictive part and the matrix, typically one containing 'ni' attached to a head noun. It is also sometimes used for relative clauses and similarly closely connected sentences (where we cannot use 'en' but think "and").
jan li kama tawa lupa mi: jan ni li esun e ko pona. The man that came to my door was selling soap.
jan li kama lon insa pi tomo mi; soweli li moku lili e ona. A man came into my house and the dog bit him.
. Ends other sentences and nonsentential utterances.
A
tpl thumb-fist, palm facing back (letters displayed under slanted left arm)
a I Oh! (natural sound - every human has a sound like this used in something like this way,
even if not officially part of their language.)
or any other nonverbal utterance: Ah! Ow! Oof! Ugh! ...... The exercise on expressing emotions in your oral interp book will allow you many variation in spoken language; not so much in writing.. It may be repeated for more effect:
a a Ah Hah!
or other double exclamations: Ohoh! uhuh! Oy vey! ....
a a a Ha ha ha!
officially laughter [
a a a a Stop! Don't do that!
For the spoken forms, the junctures between repeated 'a' may be useful in interp (and indeed, the onset and coda of the single form): pauses, glottal stops, and aitches or thetas are all possibilities to be explored. In writing, of course, none of these frills appears.]
noun: exclamation, moan, groan, cry, ...
modifier emotional, breathily, ...
vi exclaim, moan, ...; utters "a"
vt utters DO in emotional manner, with many "a"s; utters "a" to express DO
The DO may also be a description of the emotion, e.g. 'a e pilin pona' for "sighed contentedly" or some such. In a similar way, the noun might receive a modifier 'a pi pilin pona' for a contented sigh, say.]
{pu now identifies/uses interchangeably with kin for both emotions and emphasis. Not yet widely followed}
tpl: flat hand at side of chin, palm facing left (shout?, cf hieroglyph)
akesi N toad (Dutch hagedis "lizard")
Actually, any amphibian or reptile (can your remember which a toad is?) from smallest tree frogs to largest dinosaur.
Also, any small ugly (non-cute) or slimy animal (this may be culture specific).
modifier: amphibian, reptilian,
ugly, slimy
vi: be an amphibian, reptile
The "ugly, slimy" uses have not ocurred. The nearest is one use as "treacherous" from Phillippine idioms.
For the most part the animals have been snakes (akesi linja), dragons (akesi waso/seli/kon), dinosaurs (akesi suli/wawa/monsuta) and turtles (various ways of saying that hey carry their homes or have hard skins or humps).
[possible development
vt: turn DO into a reptile or amphibian, sic a reptile or amphibian on DO, maybe just rub a toad over DO.
make DO ugly.
The move from amphibian/reptile to small and ugly is from Sonja, but might not fit with some cultural standards. Notice, that "evil" is not part of this complex.]
tpl 2 hand at left elbow, palm facing back
ala A not (Georgian ara არა"not")
That as a sentence negation (modifying the verb). In modifying NPs it can mean no, none of, not any. In modifying other modifiers (and sometimes verb it makes the whole mean the polar opposite: 'suli ala' little, 'kepeken ala' without (the use of)
Yes/No questions are formed by inserting 'ala' between two occurrences of the verb (or other crucial expression): sina tawa ala tawa Are you going? [this is an eroded form of a compound disjunction question, but looks like a new form without any relatives.]
noun: nothing, void, vacuum
vi: be nothing
vt: destroy DO, annihilate DO
number zero
interjection No! (answer to a question or a proposal)
[ala li ala. Heidegger. The nothing nothings.I have no idea what that means.
tpl flat hand at left shoulder, palm facing down
alasa V hunt (Acadian French a la chasse "hunting")
hunt, forage, gather, harvest
seek, look for
noun: hunting (sport)
game (what is hunted, not 'musi')
modifier: hunting (type of animal), game (type of animal)
vi: be hunting (vt with suppressed generic DO)
be game
vt: hunt DO as prey
forage for
{pu has lukin for "look for" which creates paradoxes. Both are used.}
tpl 1 hand at left shoulder, palm facing back
探 (jp)
ale/ ali A all (Grmic alle, "all")
Also each, any, every, all of, the whole of; complete
abundant
noun: Everything, the World/Universe, Life ale li pona
abundance
vi: be everything, etc.
be complete
[vt: make DO one with everything (really good guru)
complete DO]
{One pu attempt to deal with the number problem gave this the value 100 which creates immediate ambiguities. It. is used , however, in desperation.}
tpl: wiggling both hands in front of chest, palms facing forward
anpa N underside (Acadian en bas "below")
Also basement, lower levels, bottom (but not "butt, bum" which seems to be 'monsi')
defeat
fall, descent
modifier: below, low, underneath, deep (maybe)
vi: be below/ underneath / underground / low / deep
be defeated, be subservient
fall, go down
vt: fell
defeat
enslave
lower
Common noun with Ps to indicate a position below the following NP (this compound requires 'pi' if what follows is more than one words)
{latest official A bowing down, humble, lowly dependent. This meaning is now at noka. This move. has not been widely followed}
tpl bent hand in front of chest, palm facing down
ante A different (Germanic ander "other")
What different from with 'tan'. In what respect, not worked out.
Also foreign and strange (unfamiliar or unknown), but not peculiar or odd. (see nasa)
{latest official stresses altered, changed ---i.e., different from before, rather than different from others}
noun: difference, strangeness, etc.
foreigner, stranger,
vi: be different
be foreign, a stranger
vt change / alter DO ( 'tawa' for final state)
cond: otherwise, on the other hand
tpl bent hand on top of left fist, palm facing left
anu F or
Goes anywhere 'en' can go but also between VPs in place of 'li' and DOs in place of 'e'. Maybe even between sentences.
Officially, any 'anu' sentence can be taken as a question "Which alternative?" In writing I suppose this is marked by a question mark. No examples so far.
[Possible extension is to the general notion of choice with a noun for the action, modifiers for the chosen and for sequences and perhaps for picky, verbs for choosing from ('tan') a pool and so on.. The consequences of doing this for intelligibility have not been examined,]
tplL hand in front of chest, palm facing down
[apeja V(?) much draft Talk but not in official list:
- to attack non-physically (verbally attack)
- to expose to shame
blame
to fault
accuse
to cause to feel shame
to dishonour, disgrace
a painful emotion resulting from an awareness of having done something dishonourable, unworthy, degrading, etc.
to embarass
barb = cutting remark
1. shame
2. disgrace
3. stigma
4. discredit
5. ignominy
6. dishonor
7. reproach
8. indignity
9. mortification
10. obloquy
== compare with ==
to teach? show? demonstrate? indicate? (lawa tawa)
No usage found.
Fairly clearly not a concept that fits well with tp ethos.]
awen M continue (Dutch houden)
keep on
noun: inertia
continuity, continuum
preserves, canned goods
stay
wait
modifier: continuing, continuous, perpetual,
steady
patient
permanent
preserved, saved
reliable
vi: be any of the above
be waiting
vt: keep DO. preserve DO
anchor / stabilize DO
wait for DO
[It would be nice to work this into some conditional phrases about while or during some even or period of time, but nothing of this sort has worked out yet.]
{latest official has waiting, staying, kept, protected, enduring, safe cf. selo}
tpl L hand at left shoulder, palm facing back
E
tpl flat hand, palm facing back
e F marks beginning of DO
May be repeated with new NPs indefinitely.
tpl flat hand in front of chest, palm facing down
en F and (Dutch en)
Mixed "and" between just about any two parallel constituents; logical "and" everywhere but between VPs and DO's (repeated initiators).
[Something like the case for 'anu', here with the notion of addition. Not developed.]
{latest mentioned something about pi but not developed}
tpl L hand on top of left fist, palm facing down
esun N trade
Basic notion is an exchange of goods swap. Hence an event where that goes on a lot, indeed the event is designed for it:market. Then a permanent place for that sort of things, now, probably, changed to a money system: shop, store on up to mall. Then generalized to any commercial enterprise: business, trade.
modifier: pertaining to any of the above.
marketable
do business
vi: be any of the above
vt buy, sell DO
[Yes, but it is not clear how to say which. The center of the transaction -- the object, not the cash -- is presumably the DO and the cash gets hooked on with a PP. But English uses the same PP for both transactions "For $X"; now we have to make the distinction with the PP instead of the verb. Sonja says the difference is between 'tan and 'tawa', but that doesn't help much, since a good case can be made for either one going either way. <later> Unless the third thing is not the money but the other trader; then you buy tan and sell tawa. I suppose the money comes in with 'kepeken' Thoughts?]
tpl bent hand in front of chest, palm facing up (both hands) (offering)
I
tpl 1 hand, palm facing down (also j)
ijo N thing (Esper. io)
Basically physical object, but expanded to include abstractions, thought, and so on, especially topic.
{phenomenon, matter}
Pronominally as something, anything and as informal anaphora for inanimates.
[very little development, so modifier usage and various verbs not specified., though maybe
vt: objectify DO both in the feminist sense and in the Quinean.
'toki e ijo soweli' = "talk about animals" and similarly with any other subject matter and any other verb that takes "about x"]
tpl thumb-fist in front of chest, palm facing down, thumb pointing left
ike A bad (Finnish iiki)
Opposite of 'pona' in moral and practical sense, Anything I don't like but that does not disgust me.
{nonessential, irrelevant}
noun: evil, badness generally
complexity
vi: be bad, evil,
be complex
vt: make DO bad, complex
spoil.
interj: Too bad! Sorry! Bummer! etc.
Bad! (scold)
cond: unfortunately
tpl thumb-fist in front of chest, palm facing forward
*iki X former anaphoric pronoun, now ‘ona’ (too close to ‘ike’)
ilo N tool (Esper, -ilo)
Particularly, it seems (or maybe just be cause we use them so much) machine, electronic device, but it retains the general sense: aid. (for: 'tawa')
modifier: useful
vi: be a tool
be useful
vt: use DO (as a tool).
tpl thumb-fist on top of left fist, palm facing up
insa N insides (Eng insides via Tok Pisin)
So guts, stomach, heart
center
middle
interior world, inner life
{content}
modifier: visceral, GI and cardio
central
interior
vi: be any of above.
[vt: ingest, swallow, absorb, incorporate]
Common with P as a place in or into which, needs 'pi'.
tpl L hand on stomach, palm facing back
*ipi anaphoric pronoun, now ‘ona’. proposed to replace ‘iki’, rejected in first vetting. dead
J
tpl see i
jaki A dirty (Eng yucky)
With all the notions of impure, polluted, vile. disgusting, filthy, gross, tabu, tref. Probably also obscene, sordid, lurid, debauching ....
noun: dirt, garbage, pollution, porno, debauchery, obscenity
vi: be ---
vt: dirty (make DO dirty), pollute.
interj: Eew! Yucky! Gross! [Probably the strongest tp swear word because it embodies all the mention of bodily functions and related taboo subjects -- which may vary culturally,. of course, but always come in with this word]
tpl thumb-fist at side of chin, palm facing forward
*jalan (FI ‘jalan’ “afoot” fr ‘jalka’ “foot”). “foot” proposed, rejected in first vetting. dead.
jan N human being (Cantonese jan)
Actually, basically, great ape, usually specified to the above but also generalized to person (anything in the context that performs humanlike acts). Also, in appropriate contexts, member, inhabitant, etc. Pronoun as someone, anyone, and anaphoric for persons.
modifier: human
personal
soneone's, anyone's
vi: be ---
vt: humanize, personalize, personify
tpl 2 hand at left shoulder, palm facing back
jelo A yellow (Eng, yellow)
Actually a wider color than the English, running into the light browns in one direction, the light greens in another. So far no culturally laden terms have been absorbed into this.
noun: the color
vi: be ---
vt: color DO yellow.
tpl F hand on stomach, palm facing down
jo V have (Cantonese ?)
Covering temporary possession, inalienable possession, legal ownership, and whatever you have. But also contain, bear (as, e.g., silver on the table). No sense of obligation connected with this (see 'wile').
{hold, carry}
noun: possession (nine points of the law), ownership and related words for other cases
possessions, property
contents
modifier: owned, private
owner('s)
vi: be ---
tpl bent hand on top of left fist, palm facing up
K
tpl bent hand, palm facing down
kala N fish (Finnish kala)
Any animal that lives (almost) entirely in water, so from at least molluscs and jellyfish and other small but visible sea creatures to whales and delphids. Science, in a word, be damned. Of course, many compounds to fit different environments. No cultural baggage.
modifier: fishy
vi: be ---
[vt: I would like, of course, to make this be the verb for catching fish or, at least, trying to, but it just doesn't work out. I suspect tpers alasa fish as much as deer. So, I got nothing here.]
tpl flat hand at left elbow, palm facing back (looks like?)
kalama N noise (Croatian galama, Eng clamor)
Any sound, really, whether musical or cacophonous, soft or loud . It also includes means of making sound,. playing an instrument, voice and even snore.
{recite}
modifier: sonic, noisy
vocal
vi: be ---
make a sound
vt: make DO (a sound)
play DO (an instrument)
sound DO
tpl wiggling hand at side of chin, palm facing left
kama M come (Tok Pisin kamap < Eng come up)
From become to happen (to) to arrive (at: 'tawa') to future tense. Also start (before even 'open'?), manage to, succeed in.
noun: future.
event, occurrence
arrival
becoming
beginning
outcome
modifier: future
arriving
eventful
inchoative / initiating
developing
va: modal and above
occur
vt. make DO happen
summon / bring / fetch / carry DO
[Many words take on special meanings when following 'kama']
tpl bent hand in front of chest, palm facing back
* kan P with. among now 'poka'
*kapa N extrusion, hill, button now 'nena
*kapesi A brown, gray now covered by 'pimeja'
kasi N plant (Finn kasvi)
Every kind: herb, tree, bush, vegetable,...
leaf, ...
modifier: botanical
vegetal
herbal
va: be ----
vt. plant DO ('tawa' or 'lon' depending)
tpl F hand on top of left fist, palm facing down
ken M can (Tok Pisin ken < Eng can)
Weak modal "no powerful force against" can, may, be able to, be allowed / permitted to, free to, possible
noun: ability
rights
permission
power (of office or status)
modifier: able / capable
rightful
legal / licit / legitimate
allowed
possible
va: be ---
vt: enable / empower DO
delegate to DO
permit DO
make possible
cond: maybe, possibly
tpl thumb-fist at left shoulder, palm facing back
kepeken V use (Dutch gebruiken)
Purpose 'tawa'
noun: use, usage
tool
modifier: useful
handy
va: be ---
prep: with (tool), by means of, {using}
[A virtual duplicate of 'ilo']
Note that, although 'kepeken' has "always" been a preposition, it does not take a noun complement when used as a verb, but rather requires the 'e' for a direct object.
{Cancel that, kepeken is latestly officially a preposition, so DOES take a noun complement and NOT e
This seems to call for a general treatment with all slot filled:
x li kepeken y e z
x uses y on z/ for z
with y understood from context or unimportant, x works on/at z
with z suppressed x uses y
with y and z both suppressed, x is handy or useful
if the action involved is more detailed, that detail becomes the main verb and 'kepeken y' becomes a PP}
tpl L hand on top of left fist, palm facing left
kili N fruit (Georgian xili)
Seeds and seed carriers of kasi, includes mushrooms
modifier: fruit(y)
fruitful, fertile
va: be ...
[maybe bear fruit, be fruitful, ripen
vt. harvest
pollinate
ripen
all possibilities, none definitely in use.]
tpl thumb-fist at side of chin, palm facing left
kin indeed (Finnish kin)
Emphasizes the word before it.
also, too, even depending on context.
cond: moreover, in addition, likewise
{in latest replaced by a}
kipisi V cut
noun: cut
cutting
portion, fraction, part
modifier: partial, incomplete
divided, cut
{not in latest. maybe back to tu}
kiwen A hard (Finnish kivi, kiven)
Not yielding to impact, not "difficult"
Also, solid, stone-like, metallic, mineral
noun: stone, rock, mineral, metal
va: be ...
vt: stone (throw stones at) DO
solidify, gel, thicken DO
thumb-fist on top of left fist, palm facing down
ko N goo (Cantonese gou2 膏 "paste")
Any semi-solid or squishy stuff: paste, powder, gum, gelatin, dust, dough, clay
modifier: soft, squishy, colloidal,powdery, ...
va: be ...
vt: pulverize / grind DO, reduce DO to a paste/powder
[ affix DO [to tawa] with glue, glue DO
dust DO [with kepeken] ? ]
tpl bent hand on stomach, palm facing down
kon N air (Chinese )
Any gaseous substance: breath, gas [not -oline], wind
odor, scent, smell
spirit, soul
essence
unseen agent
experiential life
modifier: airy, gaseous, windy
odoriferous
etheral
spiritual, soulful
va: be ...
breathe
[vt: inflate DO
gasify / sublime / vaporize DO
breathe in DO]
tpl wiggling hand in front of chest, palm facing left
kule N color (Acadian French couleur)
Related words like tint
paint, ...
modifier: colorful, colored, painted
va: be ...
vt: color / paint DO
tpl F hand in front of chest, palm facing left
kulupu N group (Tongan kulupu < English group)
Any gathering of things physically or mentally: community, people, society, nation, tribe, clan, set, company, meeting, mob, gang, ...
modifier: communal, public, national, ...
va: be ...
vt: call together / assemble / form / convene DO
[ gang up on / mob / storm DO ?]
tpl 2 hand at left shoulder, palm facing down
kute V hear (Acadian French acouter)
listen to
{obey}
noun: hearing [sense], listening.
[gossip, what heard ?]
{ear}
modifier: auditory, hearing, listening
va: be ...
[cond by hearsay ?]
tpl thumb-fist at side of forehead, palm facing left
? ends questions, including multisentence ones and nonsentential ones
sina tan seme? Where are you from?
sina sona ala sona e ni: jan Mawi li unpa e jan Tan.-? Did you know that Mary is sleeping with Tom.
: used mainly with 'ni', it introduces following text which is officially the referent of that 'ni'. This following text, to the final '-' is a part of the sentence containing the 'ni' and constitutes a display. The final punctuation - after the '-' is for that sentence.
mi sona e ni: jan Tan li pilin pona-. I know that Tom is happy.
' ' Surround an utterance to make it a proper adjective to some speech word, as a report or for discussion. Also surrounds direct quotations as displays.
nimi 'e' li nimi lili The word "e" is a small word.
jan li toki e toki 'mi wile weka. o mi mute li tawa'. The man said, "I want to leave. Let's go".
jan li toki e ni: "mi wile tawa tomo'. The persono said "I want to go home'
nimi mi li 'Kipo'.
! Ends exclamations.
a! Ouch! (or some other such)
sina! You! (Out of all the lousy gin-joints in this lousy world look who has to come into mine, say)
, No fixed use but available to clarify confusing constructions by indicating principal parts (end of 'pi', break between a noun phrase and a new modifier.)
jan pi ma Asina pona, mute li tawa noka wawa, tawa telo Many men of beautiful Athens ran to the well. (as opposed to "A very beautiful Athenian ran wetly away.")
The most common problem a comma might solve (and the corresponding break in the speech flow) is the line between VP and PP at the end of a sentence. The significant ambiguity of 'ona li pana e sitelen tawa mi' and countless similar cases recommend this addition, but it is not regularly used.
Another, probably rare case, is when 'la' phrases group left rather than right, to indicate the end off the reverse grouping. (no known examples).
In pu a comma is used to end a 'la' condition, placed before the 'la' (though the spoken version almost certainly has its break -- if any -- after the 'la').
"" Surround no-tp expressions in the same way as single quotes surround tp expressions.
- marks the end of a display, after the punctuation of the last sentence and before the punctuation of the matrix sentence. New and not yet regularly used.
; Replaces period for sentences in displays
Also used sometimes to join two parts of a sentence with a restrictive relative clause, the restrictive part and the matrix, typically one containing 'ni' attached to a head noun. It is also sometimes used for relative clauses and similarly closely connected sentences (where we cannot use 'en' but think "and").
jan li kama tawa lupa mi: jan ni li esun e ko pona. The man that came to my door was selling soap.
jan li kama lon insa pi tomo mi; soweli li moku lili e ona. A man came into my house and the dog bit him.
. Ends other sentences and nonsentential utterances.
tpl thumb-fist, palm facing back (letters displayed under slanted left arm)
a I Oh! (natural sound - every human has a sound like this used in something like this way,
even if not officially part of their language.)
or any other nonverbal utterance: Ah! Ow! Oof! Ugh! ...... The exercise on expressing emotions in your oral interp book will allow you many variation in spoken language; not so much in writing.. It may be repeated for more effect:
a a Ah Hah!
or other double exclamations: Ohoh! uhuh! Oy vey! ....
a a a Ha ha ha!
officially laughter [
a a a a Stop! Don't do that!
For the spoken forms, the junctures between repeated 'a' may be useful in interp (and indeed, the onset and coda of the single form): pauses, glottal stops, and aitches or thetas are all possibilities to be explored. In writing, of course, none of these frills appears.]
noun: exclamation, moan, groan, cry, ...
modifier emotional, breathily, ...
vi exclaim, moan, ...; utters "a"
vt utters DO in emotional manner, with many "a"s; utters "a" to express DO
The DO may also be a description of the emotion, e.g. 'a e pilin pona' for "sighed contentedly" or some such. In a similar way, the noun might receive a modifier 'a pi pilin pona' for a contented sigh, say.]
{pu now identifies/uses interchangeably with kin for both emotions and emphasis. Not yet widely followed}
tpl: flat hand at side of chin, palm facing left (shout?, cf hieroglyph)
 |
akesi N toad (Dutch hagedis "lizard")
Actually, any amphibian or reptile (can your remember which a toad is?) from smallest tree frogs to largest dinosaur.
Also, any small ugly (non-cute) or slimy animal (this may be culture specific).
modifier: amphibian, reptilian,
ugly, slimy
vi: be an amphibian, reptile
The "ugly, slimy" uses have not ocurred. The nearest is one use as "treacherous" from Phillippine idioms.
For the most part the animals have been snakes (akesi linja), dragons (akesi waso/seli/kon), dinosaurs (akesi suli/wawa/monsuta) and turtles (various ways of saying that hey carry their homes or have hard skins or humps).
[possible development
vt: turn DO into a reptile or amphibian, sic a reptile or amphibian on DO, maybe just rub a toad over DO.
make DO ugly.
The move from amphibian/reptile to small and ugly is from Sonja, but might not fit with some cultural standards. Notice, that "evil" is not part of this complex.]
tpl 2 hand at left elbow, palm facing back
 |
ala A not (Georgian ara არა"not")
That as a sentence negation (modifying the verb). In modifying NPs it can mean no, none of, not any. In modifying other modifiers (and sometimes verb it makes the whole mean the polar opposite: 'suli ala' little, 'kepeken ala' without (the use of)
Yes/No questions are formed by inserting 'ala' between two occurrences of the verb (or other crucial expression): sina tawa ala tawa Are you going? [this is an eroded form of a compound disjunction question, but looks like a new form without any relatives.]
noun: nothing, void, vacuum
vi: be nothing
vt: destroy DO, annihilate DO
number zero
interjection No! (answer to a question or a proposal)
[ala li ala. Heidegger. The nothing nothings.I have no idea what that means.
tpl flat hand at left shoulder, palm facing down
 |
hunt, forage, gather, harvest
seek, look for
noun: hunting (sport)
game (what is hunted, not 'musi')
modifier: hunting (type of animal), game (type of animal)
vi: be hunting (vt with suppressed generic DO)
be game
vt: hunt DO as prey
forage for
{pu has lukin for "look for" which creates paradoxes. Both are used.}
tpl 1 hand at left shoulder, palm facing back
探 (jp)
ale/ ali A all (Grmic alle, "all")
Also each, any, every, all of, the whole of; complete
abundant
noun: Everything, the World/Universe, Life ale li pona
abundance
vi: be everything, etc.
be complete
[vt: make DO one with everything (really good guru)
complete DO]
{One pu attempt to deal with the number problem gave this the value 100 which creates immediate ambiguities. It. is used , however, in desperation.}
tpl: wiggling both hands in front of chest, palms facing forward
 |
anpa N underside (Acadian en bas "below")
Also basement, lower levels, bottom (but not "butt, bum" which seems to be 'monsi')
defeat
fall, descent
modifier: below, low, underneath, deep (maybe)
vi: be below/ underneath / underground / low / deep
be defeated, be subservient
fall, go down
vt: fell
defeat
enslave
lower
Common noun with Ps to indicate a position below the following NP (this compound requires 'pi' if what follows is more than one words)
{latest official A bowing down, humble, lowly dependent. This meaning is now at noka. This move. has not been widely followed}
tpl bent hand in front of chest, palm facing down
ante A different (Germanic ander "other")
What different from with 'tan'. In what respect, not worked out.
Also foreign and strange (unfamiliar or unknown), but not peculiar or odd. (see nasa)
{latest official stresses altered, changed ---i.e., different from before, rather than different from others}
noun: difference, strangeness, etc.
foreigner, stranger,
vi: be different
be foreign, a stranger
vt change / alter DO ( 'tawa' for final state)
cond: otherwise, on the other hand
tpl bent hand on top of left fist, palm facing left
anu F or
Goes anywhere 'en' can go but also between VPs in place of 'li' and DOs in place of 'e'. Maybe even between sentences.
Officially, any 'anu' sentence can be taken as a question "Which alternative?" In writing I suppose this is marked by a question mark. No examples so far.
[Possible extension is to the general notion of choice with a noun for the action, modifiers for the chosen and for sequences and perhaps for picky, verbs for choosing from ('tan') a pool and so on.. The consequences of doing this for intelligibility have not been examined,]
tplL hand in front of chest, palm facing down
[apeja V(?) much draft Talk but not in official list:
- to single out - expose ; to reveale the guilt or wrongdoing of - to attack non-physically (verbally attack) - to expose to shame blame to fault accuse to cause to feel shame to dishonour, disgrace a painful emotion resulting from an awareness of having done something dishonourable, unworthy, degrading, etc.
to embarass
barb = cutting remark
1. shame
2. disgrace
3. stigma
4. discredit
5. ignominy
6. dishonor
7. reproach
8. indignity
9. mortification
10. obloquy
- to single out
- expose ; to reveale the guilt or wrongdoing of- to attack non-physically (verbally attack)
- to expose to shame
blame
to fault
accuse
to cause to feel shame
to dishonour, disgrace
a painful emotion resulting from an awareness of having done something dishonourable, unworthy, degrading, etc.
to embarass
barb = cutting remark
1. shame
2. disgrace
3. stigma
4. discredit
5. ignominy
6. dishonor
7. reproach
8. indignity
9. mortification
10. obloquy
== compare with ==
to teach? show? demonstrate? indicate? (lawa tawa)
No usage found.
Fairly clearly not a concept that fits well with tp ethos.]
awen M continue (Dutch houden)
keep on
noun: inertia
continuity, continuum
preserves, canned goods
stay
wait
modifier: continuing, continuous, perpetual,
steady
patient
permanent
preserved, saved
reliable
vi: be any of the above
be waiting
vt: keep DO. preserve DO
anchor / stabilize DO
wait for DO
[It would be nice to work this into some conditional phrases about while or during some even or period of time, but nothing of this sort has worked out yet.]
{latest official has waiting, staying, kept, protected, enduring, safe cf. selo}
tpl L hand at left shoulder, palm facing back
E
tpl flat hand, palm facing back
e F marks beginning of DO
May be repeated with new NPs indefinitely.
tpl flat hand in front of chest, palm facing down
en F and (Dutch en)
Mixed "and" between just about any two parallel constituents; logical "and" everywhere but between VPs and DO's (repeated initiators).
[Something like the case for 'anu', here with the notion of addition. Not developed.]
{latest mentioned something about pi but not developed}
tpl L hand on top of left fist, palm facing down
esun N trade
Basic notion is an exchange of goods swap. Hence an event where that goes on a lot, indeed the event is designed for it:market. Then a permanent place for that sort of things, now, probably, changed to a money system: shop, store on up to mall. Then generalized to any commercial enterprise: business, trade.
modifier: pertaining to any of the above.
marketable
do business
vi: be any of the above
vt buy, sell DO
[Yes, but it is not clear how to say which. The center of the transaction -- the object, not the cash -- is presumably the DO and the cash gets hooked on with a PP. But English uses the same PP for both transactions "For $X"; now we have to make the distinction with the PP instead of the verb. Sonja says the difference is between 'tan and 'tawa', but that doesn't help much, since a good case can be made for either one going either way. <later> Unless the third thing is not the money but the other trader; then you buy tan and sell tawa. I suppose the money comes in with 'kepeken' Thoughts?]
tpl bent hand in front of chest, palm facing up (both hands) (offering)
I
tpl 1 hand, palm facing down (also j)
ijo N thing (Esper. io)
Basically physical object, but expanded to include abstractions, thought, and so on, especially topic.
{phenomenon, matter}
Pronominally as something, anything and as informal anaphora for inanimates.
[very little development, so modifier usage and various verbs not specified., though maybe
vt: objectify DO both in the feminist sense and in the Quinean.
'toki e ijo soweli' = "talk about animals" and similarly with any other subject matter and any other verb that takes "about x"]
tpl thumb-fist in front of chest, palm facing down, thumb pointing left
ike A bad (Finnish iiki)
Opposite of 'pona' in moral and practical sense, Anything I don't like but that does not disgust me.
{nonessential, irrelevant}
noun: evil, badness generally
complexity
vi: be bad, evil,
be complex
vt: make DO bad, complex
spoil.
interj: Too bad! Sorry! Bummer! etc.
Bad! (scold)
cond: unfortunately
tpl thumb-fist in front of chest, palm facing forward
*iki X former anaphoric pronoun, now ‘ona’ (too close to ‘ike’)
ilo N tool (Esper, -ilo)
Particularly, it seems (or maybe just be cause we use them so much) machine, electronic device, but it retains the general sense: aid. (for: 'tawa')
modifier: useful
vi: be a tool
be useful
vt: use DO (as a tool).
tpl thumb-fist on top of left fist, palm facing up
insa N insides (Eng insides via Tok Pisin)
So guts, stomach, heart
center
middle
interior world, inner life
{content}
modifier: visceral, GI and cardio
central
interior
vi: be any of above.
[vt: ingest, swallow, absorb, incorporate]
Common with P as a place in or into which, needs 'pi'.
tpl L hand on stomach, palm facing back
*ipi anaphoric pronoun, now ‘ona’. proposed to replace ‘iki’, rejected in first vetting. dead
J
tpl see i
jaki A dirty (Eng yucky)
With all the notions of impure, polluted, vile. disgusting, filthy, gross, tabu, tref. Probably also obscene, sordid, lurid, debauching ....
noun: dirt, garbage, pollution, porno, debauchery, obscenity
vi: be ---
vt: dirty (make DO dirty), pollute.
interj: Eew! Yucky! Gross! [Probably the strongest tp swear word because it embodies all the mention of bodily functions and related taboo subjects -- which may vary culturally,. of course, but always come in with this word]
tpl thumb-fist at side of chin, palm facing forward
*jalan (FI ‘jalan’ “afoot” fr ‘jalka’ “foot”). “foot” proposed, rejected in first vetting. dead.
jan N human being (Cantonese jan)
Actually, basically, great ape, usually specified to the above but also generalized to person (anything in the context that performs humanlike acts). Also, in appropriate contexts, member, inhabitant, etc. Pronoun as someone, anyone, and anaphoric for persons.
modifier: human
personal
soneone's, anyone's
vi: be ---
vt: humanize, personalize, personify
tpl 2 hand at left shoulder, palm facing back
jelo A yellow (Eng, yellow)
Actually a wider color than the English, running into the light browns in one direction, the light greens in another. So far no culturally laden terms have been absorbed into this.
noun: the color
vi: be ---
vt: color DO yellow.
tpl F hand on stomach, palm facing down
jo V have (Cantonese ?)
Covering temporary possession, inalienable possession, legal ownership, and whatever you have. But also contain, bear (as, e.g., silver on the table). No sense of obligation connected with this (see 'wile').
{hold, carry}
noun: possession (nine points of the law), ownership and related words for other cases
possessions, property
contents
modifier: owned, private
owner('s)
vi: be ---
tpl bent hand on top of left fist, palm facing up
K
tpl bent hand, palm facing down
kala N fish (Finnish kala)
Any animal that lives (almost) entirely in water, so from at least molluscs and jellyfish and other small but visible sea creatures to whales and delphids. Science, in a word, be damned. Of course, many compounds to fit different environments. No cultural baggage.
modifier: fishy
vi: be ---
[vt: I would like, of course, to make this be the verb for catching fish or, at least, trying to, but it just doesn't work out. I suspect tpers alasa fish as much as deer. So, I got nothing here.]
tpl flat hand at left elbow, palm facing back (looks like?)
kalama N noise (Croatian galama, Eng clamor)
Any sound, really, whether musical or cacophonous, soft or loud . It also includes means of making sound,. playing an instrument, voice and even snore.
{recite}
modifier: sonic, noisy
vocal
vi: be ---
make a sound
vt: make DO (a sound)
play DO (an instrument)
sound DO
tpl wiggling hand at side of chin, palm facing left
kama M come (Tok Pisin kamap < Eng come up)
From become to happen (to) to arrive (at: 'tawa') to future tense. Also start (before even 'open'?), manage to, succeed in.
noun: future.
event, occurrence
arrival
becoming
beginning
outcome
modifier: future
arriving
eventful
inchoative / initiating
developing
va: modal and above
occur
vt. make DO happen
summon / bring / fetch / carry DO
[Many words take on special meanings when following 'kama']
tpl bent hand in front of chest, palm facing back
* kan P with. among now 'poka'
*kapa N extrusion, hill, button now 'nena
*kapesi A brown, gray now covered by 'pimeja'
kasi N plant (Finn kasvi)
Every kind: herb, tree, bush, vegetable,...
leaf, ...
modifier: botanical
vegetal
herbal
va: be ----
vt. plant DO ('tawa' or 'lon' depending)
tpl F hand on top of left fist, palm facing down
ken M can (Tok Pisin ken < Eng can)
Weak modal "no powerful force against" can, may, be able to, be allowed / permitted to, free to, possible
noun: ability
rights
permission
power (of office or status)
modifier: able / capable
rightful
legal / licit / legitimate
allowed
possible
va: be ---
vt: enable / empower DO
delegate to DO
permit DO
make possible
cond: maybe, possibly
tpl thumb-fist at left shoulder, palm facing back
kepeken V use (Dutch gebruiken)
Purpose 'tawa'
noun: use, usage
tool
modifier: useful
handy
va: be ---
prep: with (tool), by means of, {using}
[A virtual duplicate of 'ilo']
Note that, although 'kepeken' has "always" been a preposition, it does not take a noun complement when used as a verb, but rather requires the 'e' for a direct object.
{Cancel that, kepeken is latestly officially a preposition, so DOES take a noun complement and NOT e
This seems to call for a general treatment with all slot filled:
x li kepeken y e z
x uses y on z/ for z
with y understood from context or unimportant, x works on/at z
with z suppressed x uses y
with y and z both suppressed, x is handy or useful
if the action involved is more detailed, that detail becomes the main verb and 'kepeken y' becomes a PP}
tpl L hand on top of left fist, palm facing left
*kijetasantakalu N pangolin, kinkjou, any Procyonidae, but apparently also armadillo
(Fin;kierteishäntäkarhu "kinkajou" ?)
Presumably and April Fools' Day joke. Not on any subesequent lists.
kili N fruit (Georgian xili)
Seeds and seed carriers of kasi, includes mushrooms
modifier: fruit(y)
fruitful, fertile
va: be ...
[maybe bear fruit, be fruitful, ripen
vt. harvest
pollinate
ripen
all possibilities, none definitely in use.]
tpl thumb-fist at side of chin, palm facing left
kin indeed (Finnish kin)
Emphasizes the word before it.
also, too, even depending on context.
cond: moreover, in addition, likewise
{in latest replaced by a}
kipisi V cut
noun: cut
cutting
portion, fraction, part
modifier: partial, incomplete
divided, cut
{not in latest. maybe back to tu}
kiwen A hard (Finnish kivi, kiven)
Not yielding to impact, not "difficult"
Also, solid, stone-like, metallic, mineral
noun: stone, rock, mineral, metal
va: be ...
vt: stone (throw stones at) DO
solidify, gel, thicken DO
thumb-fist on top of left fist, palm facing down
ko N goo (Cantonese gou2 膏 "paste")
Any semi-solid or squishy stuff: paste, powder, gum, gelatin, dust, dough, clay
modifier: soft, squishy, colloidal,powdery, ...
va: be ...
vt: pulverize / grind DO, reduce DO to a paste/powder
[ affix DO [to tawa] with glue, glue DO
dust DO [with kepeken] ? ]
tpl bent hand on stomach, palm facing down
kon N air (Chinese )
Any gaseous substance: breath, gas [not -oline], wind
odor, scent, smell
spirit, soul
essence
unseen agent
experiential life
modifier: airy, gaseous, windy
odoriferous
etheral
spiritual, soulful
va: be ...
breathe
[vt: inflate DO
gasify / sublime / vaporize DO
breathe in DO]
tpl wiggling hand in front of chest, palm facing left
kule N color (Acadian French couleur)
Related words like tint
paint, ...
modifier: colorful, colored, painted
va: be ...
vt: color / paint DO
tpl F hand in front of chest, palm facing left
kulupu N group (Tongan kulupu < English group)
Any gathering of things physically or mentally: community, people, society, nation, tribe, clan, set, company, meeting, mob, gang, ...
modifier: communal, public, national, ...
va: be ...
vt: call together / assemble / form / convene DO
[ gang up on / mob / storm DO ?]
tpl 2 hand at left shoulder, palm facing down
kute V hear (Acadian French acouter)
listen to
{obey}
noun: hearing [sense], listening.
[gossip, what heard ?]
{ear}
modifier: auditory, hearing, listening
va: be ...
[cond by hearsay ?]
tpl thumb-fist at side of forehead, palm facing left
