Seeing Toki Pona: Introduction to sitelen pona and Other Scripts - Exploring Toki Pona: A Minimalist Language in Practice

Q: In the sentence "mi lukin sitelen e lipu toki pona lon ilo.", what is the best translation of "lukin sitelen"?

to read (to look at writing). The phrase "lukin sitelen" literally means "to look at writing" and is used with the meaning "to read." In the sentence, "mi lukin sitelen e lipu toki pona lon ilo," the speaker is reading a Toki Pona document on a device, so "to read" is the correct answer.

New Words and Phrases (in English)

In this module, you will learn a few Toki Pona words related to writing systems and media. We will use them to talk about the Latin alphabet, sitelen pona, and modern ways to write Toki Pona online.

Word	Pronunciation	Translation	Example
sitelen	SEE-teh-len	image, writing, symbol, to write/draw	mi sitelen e nimi mi.(I write my name. / I draw my name.)
sitelen pona	SEE-teh-len POH-nah	the official Toki Pona glyph system; literally: good/simple writing	mi wile kama sona e sitelen pona.(I want to start learning sitelen pona.)
sitelen Lasina	SEE-teh-len LAH-see-nah	Latin script (the usual alphabet used for English and many languages)	jan li sitelen e toki pona kepeken sitelen Lasina.(People write Toki Pona using the Latin script.)
sitelen kalama	SEE-teh-len KAH-lah-mah	writing system based on sounds; literally: sound-writing (used for some fan scripts or sound-based notation)	sitelen kalama li ken toki e kalama musi.(Sound-writing can express musical sounds.)
lipu	LEE-poo	paper, document, page, book, website, file	lipu ni li toki e sitelen pona.(This document talks about sitelen pona.)
ilo	EE-loh	tool, machine, device, app, program	mi kepeken ilo pona lon lipu.(I use a good tool on a website.)
sitelen tawa	SEE-teh-len TAH-wah	moving images, video; literally: moving writing	mi lukin e sitelen tawa pi toki pona lon lipu.(I watch Toki Pona videos on a site.)
lukin sitelen	LOO-keen SEE-teh-len	to read; literally: to look at writing	mi lukin sitelen e lipu toki pona.(I read a Toki Pona document.)

Language Pattern: Talking About Writing Systems

In this step, you will see how Toki Pona talks about writing and scripts, and how compound words like sitelen pona are formed.

1. Using "sitelen" (writing, symbol, image)

The word sitelen (SEE-teh-len) means image, writing, symbol, or to write/draw. It can be used as a noun or verb depending on position in the sentence.

As a verb (with object marker e):
mi sitelen e nimi mi.

Pronunciation: MEE SEE-teh-len eh NEE-mee MEE

Meaning: "I write/draw my name."

Here, sitelen is the action (to write/draw), and what is written comes after e.

As a noun (thing word):
sitelen ni li pona.

Pronunciation: SEE-teh-len NEE lee POH-nah

Meaning: "This writing / this picture is good."

Here, sitelen is the subject ("writing / picture").

2. Compound phrases: sitelen + descriptor

Toki Pona often uses a main noun followed by another word that describes or specifies it. The describing word comes after the main noun.

sitelen Lasina

Pronunciation: SEE-teh-len LAH-see-nah

Literally: "Latin writing"

Meaning: "Latin script" (the usual alphabet).

sitelen pona

Pronunciation: SEE-teh-len POH-nah

Literally: "good/simple writing"

Meaning in the community: the official Toki Pona glyph system.

sitelen tawa

Pronunciation: SEE-teh-len TAH-wah

Literally: "moving writing"

Meaning: video, animation, moving images.

This pattern is very common:

lipu toki pona

LEE-poo TOH-kee POH-nah

Literally: "Toki Pona document"

Meaning: "a Toki Pona book / page / PDF / website".

ilo sitelen

EE-loh SEE-teh-len

Literally: "writing tool"

Meaning: a tool/app/program for writing.

3. Verbs with tools and media: using "kepeken" and "lon"

You already know kepeken (to use) and lon (in, at, on, present). Combine them with ilo and lipu to talk about modern Toki Pona media.

mi kepeken ilo lon lipu.

Pronunciation: MEE KEH-peh-ken EE-loh LON LEE-poo

Meaning: "I use a tool on a website/document."

mi lukin sitelen e lipu toki pona lon ilo.

Pronunciation: MEE LOO-keen SEE-teh-len eh LEE-poo TOH-kee POH-nah LON EE-loh

Meaning: "I read a Toki Pona document on a device."

Notice:

ilo (tool, device, app) is flexible: it can mean phone, computer, or an app.
lipu (paper, document, page, website, file) is also flexible: it can mean a physical book or a web page.

Practice Dialogue: Talking About sitelen pona Online

In this dialogue, two friends talk about learning and using sitelen pona online. Pay attention to how they mention different writing systems and media using the new vocabulary.

Two friends chatting online about learning sitelen pona and using Toki Pona in modern media.

jan A

o kama lukin! sina sona ala sona e sitelen pona?

Hey, come look! Do you know sitelen pona?

jan B

mi kama sona lili. mi lukin sitelen e lipu toki pona lon ilo mi.

I am learning a little. I read a Toki Pona document on my device.

jan A

mi sitelen e toki mi kepeken sitelen Lasina taso.

I write my Toki Pona only using the Latin script.

jan B

mi wile sitelen e toki kepeken sitelen pona kin.

I want to also write Toki Pona using sitelen pona.

jan A

lipu ni li pana e sitelen pona mute. sina ken lukin sitelen e ona.

This page gives many sitelen pona symbols. You can read them.

jan B

pona! tenpo ni la mi lukin e sitelen tawa pi toki pona lon lipu.

Great! Right now I watch Toki Pona videos on a site.

jan A

sitelen tawa li pona. taso sina wile pali e sitelen sina kin.

Videos are good. But you should also practice making your own writing.

jan B

pona. tenpo kama la mi sitelen e nimi mi kepeken sitelen pona.

Okay. Later I will write my name using sitelen pona.

Check Your Understanding (in English)

Answer this question to check your understanding of the new vocabulary about writing systems and media.

In the sentence "mi lukin sitelen e lipu toki pona lon ilo.", what is the best translation of "lukin sitelen"?

to read (to look at writing)
to write (to make symbols)
to watch a video
to open a document

Show Answer

Answer: A) to read (to look at writing)

The phrase "lukin sitelen" literally means "to look at writing" and is used with the meaning "to read." In the sentence, "mi lukin sitelen e lipu toki pona lon ilo," the speaker is reading a Toki Pona document on a device, so "to read" is the correct answer.

Key Terms

ilo: tool, device, machine, app, or program; any tool, especially technological tools.
lipu: paper, document, page, book, website, or file; any flat or document-like information object.
sitelen: image, writing, symbol, to write/draw; used both as a noun and a verb depending on position.
sitelen pona: the official Toki Pona glyph system; literally 'good/simple writing'; community term for the pictographic script.
sitelen tawa: moving images, video, animation; literally 'moving writing'.
lukin sitelen: to read; literally 'to look at writing'; uses 'lukin' (to look) plus 'sitelen' (writing).
sitelen Lasina: Latin script; the regular alphabet used for English and many languages; literally 'Latin writing'.
sitelen kalama: sound-based writing; literally 'sound writing'; used for sound notation or some fan scripts.