Confessions of a Language Addict: Toki Pona and Minimal Vocabulary

Nasin pona li mute

the simple language of good.

Nasin pona li mute

the simple language of good.

**Numbers**
Well-known languages generally have a O(log n) way of expressing the natural number n. Toki Pona, on the other hand, has words only for "one" (wan), "two" (tu), "five" (luka, which also means "hand"), and "many" (mute), and these words are additive. For example, thirteen is mute or luka luka tu wan. Expressing specific numbers greater than twenty in such an O(n) system is uncommon. Below is a Scheme program that translates a number into this notation.

;;; int->tokipona
;;; Scheme code to return the name of a positive integer
;;; in the Toki Pona language.
;;; By Damian Yerrick (jan Tepo li pali e ni)
(define int->tokipona
(letrec ((iter
(lambda (n)
(cond
((>= n 5) (cons "luka " (iter (- n 5))))
((>= n 2) (cons "tu " (iter (- n 2))))
((>= n 1) '("wan "))
(else '())))))
(lambda (n)
(apply string-append (iter n)))))
This is a Befunge program that does the same thing, by Lament (jan Nikita):

&>:!#@_:4`#v_1-:#v_0"naw">:#,_@
>^#<$:-1$<@>:4+>$0" akul">:#,_v
$5-^>:#,_^#:"tu "<<(c) Lament>>

https://archive.vn/gMrlT

#TokiPona #nanpa #numbers #program #ilo_nanpa #anno2007

Toki Pona language

Nasce lingua «Toki Pona»

Nasce lingua

Nasce lingua «Toki Pona»

Nasce lingua

Nasce lingua «Toki Pona»

Nasce lingua

Le Toki Pona - LokaNova et Freelang

In their own words -- literally
Sonja Elen Kisa of Toronto created the simple language Toki Pona, consisting of only 120 words, to help clarify her thinking during a period of depression. She has received e-mails from people learning it all over the world.
Step aside, Tolkien fans and grunting Klingonists: Newly invented tongues are creeping into the public domain, thanks to the Web.
By Amber Dance, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
August 24, 2007

http://dedalvs.com/misc/latimes/full_story.html

#TokiPona #article #lipu_sitelen #anno2007

In their own words -- literally - Los Angeles Times