Subset language of toki pona, 20 words-- and mu!

Tinkerers Anonymous: Some people can't help making changes to "fix" Toki Pona. This is a playground for their ideas.
Tokiponidistoj: Iuj homoj nepre volas fari ŝanĝojn por "ripari" Tokiponon. Jen ludejo por iliaj ideoj.
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janMato
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Subset language of toki pona, 20 words-- and mu!

Post by janMato »

EDIT IN BOLD

You may have already heard of Globish, Basic English, both are subsets of the parent langauge.

Well, we have the first (that I've seen) conlang that is an obvious tp derivative that is almost a subset of toki pona, with 20 words.

Here's a mental puzzle-- it's well known that some of the 125 (124?) words can be restated in terms of the remaining. While retaining all the particles and prepositions--ie. function-y words, could toki pona be reduce to 20 content words?

esun = tomo mani
mani = lipu pi jo ijo
monsuto = soweli ike
jan = soweli pi toki mute
kasi = soweli pi kule laso
.
Each successive definition would have to stick to the remaining words in the word stock.
.
.
And finally leading to a 20 word toki pona.

Personally, I'm favor most of all "mu", which is a proper subset of toki pona which is suitable for pedagogical purposes and broadcast on Voice of America.

jan mu: mu la mu li mu e mu tawa mu
jan mu: mu mu pi mu mu mu li mu tawa mu?
jan mu: mu!
jan mu: o mu!
jan mu: mu?
Last edited by janMato on Sat Jan 16, 2010 5:59 pm, edited 1 time in total.
janKipo
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Joined: Fri Oct 09, 2009 2:20 pm

Re: Subset language of toki pona, 20 words-- and mu!

Post by janKipo »

Well, I have to object that a plant ain't a beast and certainly not a bird-colored one.
I suppose the list of words in tp could be shortened somewhat (kepeken/ilo, for example) but doing so would lessen its expressive power (by lengthening the sentences if not otherwise)m so it doesn't seem a practical idea. As for learning, tp is about as short as they come without some really weird construction rules (aUI or NSM) and does pretty well. So, I take it that your remarks are something on the line of a reductio argument to that effect: that there is a lower limit to intelligible (and intelligent?) language minimalization.
Remember, 'mu' is the "correct" answer to the koan "Do cows have the Buddha-nature?"
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