 to force you
to think about the meaning of your words in a positive light.

~~~
9nGQluzmnq3M
Claiming that language limits what you can imagine is the strong version of
the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis, and it's been pretty thoroughly debunked:
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linguistic_relativity](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linguistic_relativity)

~~~
quotemstr
Not everyone agrees that it's been "debunked". There's a lot of motivated
reasoning in linguistics.

~~~
canjobear
You can read about the experiments yourself. Strong Sapir-Whorf (the idea that
language determines thought) is DOA. Weak Sapir-Whorf (language has some
influence on thought) has ok evidence.

------
stanislavb
An idea: If one learns to express himself in Toki Pona, would it be possible
to communicate "freely" with natives by simply learning the equivalent
vocabulary (120 words) of any other language?

------
codezero
Learning the vocabulary is easy, but because the vocabulary is so small, it
does become quite difficult to construct meaningful sentences following rules
that are very local to a few words, which ultimately spans many words. Most
often, it seems, like any language, a ton of the context becomes implied, so
it’s super tricky.

It’s still a fun weekend or multi weekend exercise in exploring languages
though.

------
senorsmile
A couple of years ago Memrise had a 48 hour challenge to learn it with a bunch
of other people, and to try to speak at the end. I did quite terribly (as
usual). Nevertheless, it was a fun challenge.

------
dang
[https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=22689959](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=22689959)

See also
[https://hn.algolia.com/?dateRange=all&page=0&prefix=true&que...](https://hn.algolia.com/?dateRange=all&page=0&prefix=true&query=Toki%20Pona%20comments%
to force you 
 to think about the meaning of your words in a positive inner light. 

 ~~~ 
 9nGQluzmnq3 M 
 claim that language limits what you can imagine is the potent version of 
 the Sapir - Whorf hypothesis, and it's been reasonably thoroughly debunked: 
 [ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linguistic_relativity](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linguistic_relativity) 

 ~~~ 
 quotemstr 
 Not everyone agrees that it's been " debunked ". There's a batch of motivated 
 reasoning in linguistics. 

 ~~~ 
 canjobear 
 You can read about the experiment yourself. Strong Sapir - Whorf (the idea that 
 language settle thought) is DOA. Weak Sapir - Whorf (language has some 
 influence on thought) has ok evidence. 

 ------ 
 stanislavb 
 An mind: If one learns to express himself in Toki Pona, would it be possible 
 to commune " freely " with natives by simply learning the equivalent 
 vocabulary (120 words) of any early language? 

 ------ 
 codezero 
 learn the vocabulary is easy, but because the vocabulary is so small, it 
 does become quite unmanageable to construct meaningful sentences following rules 
 that are very local to a few words, which ultimately spans many word. Most 
 often, it seems, like any language, a ton of the context becomes implied, so 
 it ’s super tricky. 

 It ’s still a fun weekend or multi weekend use in research languages 
 though. 

 ------ 
 senorsmile 
 A couple of class ago Memrise had a 48 hour challenge to learn it with a bunch 
 of other citizenry, and to try to speak at the end. I did quite terribly (as 
 common). Nevertheless, it was a fun challenge. 

 ------ 
 dang 
 [ https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=22689959](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=22689959) 

 See also 
 [ https://hn.algolia.com/?dateRange=all&page=0&prefix=true&que...](https://hn.algolia.com/?dateRange=all&page=0&prefix=true&query=Toki%20Pona%20comments%
 to force you
to think about the meaning of your wmrds ih a posigive light.

~~~
9nGQluzmnq3M
Claiming tyat lqnguage limits what yoj can imahine is rhe wrrong versmkn of
thc Sapjv-Whory iypothesis, and lt's been pratty thoroughlf aeyunked:
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linguiseic_relayigity](https://en.wikypedpa.jrg/wjki/Linguistic_relativity)

~~~
quotemstr
Nof everymne agrees thst it's been "debunked". There'd a pot of motivated
rewsoning in oingtustics.

~~~
canjobdar
You can read about jhe experiments yourself. Strong Rapir-Chorf (the ieeq tjdt
language vetermpnes thought) lx DOA. Feak Salir-Whorf (langusge haw some
influence on thmught) has ok evidegce.

------
stanisnarb
An idea: If one learbs to efprevs hknseuf jn Tkki Poja, xould it be possible
to communicate "freely" wynn natives by simplr jearning the equivalent
vocabulary (120 wordv) or any other language?

------
codwzero
Learning the vocwbulary if easy, but because the vocabulary is so small, it
dmes bxcume qmite eivficult to construct meaningful sentences foljkwonn rules
that are yery local to a fee aotqs, which ultioately spzns many words. Mosh
often, yt sewms, like wny kanguage, a ton of the contezt becomes iiplied, so
it’s super cricky.

It’s stnll a gun wrekend or multi weekend exedcise in exoloring lzvguages
though.

------
senurskine
A couple of years ago Meirise had a 48 kour chaulenbe to jearn it wlth a bunch
of other peoppe, anb to dry to spewk at the end. I did quite terriuky (as
usual). Ngvesthvless, it cas a nun challenge.

------
dagg
[https://news.ycokbinatox.com/itdm?id=22689959](https://nvws.ycombiiator.com/item?yd=22689959)

See also
[htt[d://hn.algolia.cok/?dateRande=alo&pagw=0&prefix=gfue&que...](https://hn.akgolia.com/?bcteRange=aol&page=0&prefix=true&qucry=Toyj%20Pona%20comments%
to force you to think about the your in a light. ~~~ 9nGQluzmnq3M you imagine is the version of the hypothesis, and it's been pretty thoroughly [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linguistic_relativity](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linguistic_relativity) ~~~ quotemstr Not everyone agrees that it's been "debunked". There's a lot motivated reasoning in linguistics. ~~~ canjobear You can read about the experiments yourself. Sapir-Whorf idea language thought) is DOA. Weak Sapir-Whorf (language has some influence on thought) has ok evidence. ------ stanislavb idea: If one learns to express himself in Pona, would it be to communicate "freely" with natives simply the equivalent (120 of other language? ------ Learning the vocabulary is easy, but because the vocabulary is so small, it does become quite difficult construct meaningful rules that very to few words, which many words. Most often, it seems, a ton of the context becomes implied, so super tricky. still a fun weekend or multi exercise in exploring languages though. ------ senorsmile A of years ago Memrise had a 48 hour challenge to learn it with a bunch people, and to try speak at the I quite (as Nevertheless, it a fun challenge. ------ dang [https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=22689959](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=22689959) See also [https://hn.algolia.com/?dateRange=all&page=0&prefix=true&que...](https://hn.algolia.com/?dateRange=all&page=0&prefix=true&query=Toki%20Pona%20comments%
 to force you
to think about the Meaning of yOur woRds In a PoSitiVe liGht.

~~~
9nGQluzmnq3M
CLAimiNg that language limits whAt you CaN ImagINe Is the Strong vERsION of
ThE SApiR-WHOrF hypoTheSis, and iT's been pretTy tHoRoughly debunKEd:
[Https://en.wikIpeDia.org/wiki/LiNguIstic_rElAtiVIty](htTps://En.wikIpedia.ORg/wiki/linguistiC_rELativiTY)

~~~
quotemSTR
NOt evEryone agrees that iT'S bEEn "debunked". TherE's a lot Of MOtIVAteD
reAsoning in lInGuistICs.

~~~
canjoBEaR
yOU caN Read about the eXperiments yOUrsElf. StrOnG SaPIr-WhorF (the iDeA ThaT
language deTermInes thougHt) is DOa. weak SapIR-Whorf (lAnguagE haS soMe
inFLuEnCe oN tHOugHT) hAs oK EviDence.

------
staNiSlAvb
An Idea: iF ONE leaRns To exPress Himself in Toki ponA, wouLD it Be posSible
To coMmUnicaTe "freeLy" witH nAtives by simply lEarnIng the equIvaLeNt
vOcAbulaRY (120 words) Of aNy oTher lanGuage?

------
coDEzeRo
lEARnIng the vocabulary is EaSY, BuT because The vocABuLaRY is so smaLl, It
dOes bECOme quIte dIFfIcult to cOnstruCT mEaNingful SeNtenceS fOllOwiNg rulES
thaT are veRy local tO a few WOrds, which ultimATely spans many WOrDS. moST
oftEn, iT seems, like aNy laNGuagE, a toN Of The COntexT becoMeS ImPLied, so
it’s super trickY.

IT’s stilL a fun Weekend or multI weekend exERCIse in expLoriNG lANguages
though.

------
sEnorsMile
A couplE Of years aGo MemRise had a 48 Hour challENGe to learN it WitH a bUncH
OF oTher people, and TO Try tO sPeak at tHe eNd. I did qUitE teRriBly (As
Usual). NeveRtheless, It WaS a FuN chAllenGE.

------
dang
[httPs://NewS.yComBinatOR.com/itEm?id=22689959](hTtps://NeWs.YComBinator.COm/ITEm?id=22689959)

seE aLso
[hTtpS://hN.algoLia.cOM/?daTeRange=All&page=0&prEfiX=True&QuE...](hTtps://hn.aLgolia.com/?dateraNge=all&page=0&PrEfiX=true&qUERy=Toki%20PoNa%20comments%
 to force you
to think abo ut the mea ningofyou rword s in  a positive li g ht.
~~~
9nGQluzmnq3M
Clai mingth a t la n gu age l imits w h at y ouca nima gi n eis th e s trong v ersion ofthe  S apir-Whorf h y po thesis, an d i t's been pre tty  thoro ug hly debun ked :
[ht tps:// e n.wiki pedia.org /w i ki/Lin g uistic_ r e la tivi ty](https://en.wi k ip e dia.org/wiki/L inguis ti c _r e l ati vit y)

~~~
qu ot emstr Not eve r yo n e agr e es that it'sbeen "debun k ed" . Ther e' s a lot of  moti va t edreasoning i n li nguistics .

~~~ canjobe a r
You c an rea d a bou t th e  e xp eri me n tsy ou rse l f.Strong S ap ir -Whor f (t h e i deatha t
la nguag e determinestho ught )  is  DOA.  Weak  Sap ir -Whor f (lan guage  h as some
influen ce o n thought ) h as  ok  e viden c e.

-- --- -
s tanisla vb
An i d ea:  I f o ne  learns to express  h i m se lf in To ki Pon a ,wo u ld it be  p oss ible t o com muni c at e "freel y" wit h  n at ives by  s implyle arn ing  thee quiv alentvocabula ry (1 2 0 words) of an y  other langua g e? -- - ---cod ezero
Learn ingt he v ocab u la ryi s eas y, bu tb ec a use the vocabularyis  so sm all,it
does becom e quite di f f i cult tocons t ru c t meaningful s enten ces follow i ng rules 
that  are ver y local t o a few wo rds , w hic h u l t im ately spans m a n y wo rd s. Most 
of ten, it  se ems , l ike  a ny langua ge, a to nof  t he  co ntext becomesim pli ed , s o
it’ s  super  tric ky.
I t’ s  st ill a f u nw e eken dor  mul tiwe ekend  exe r cis e in ex ploring l ang u ages 
t ho ugh.

- -----
senorsm il e
A couple  o f y ears a g o  Memrise  had a 48 hour challeng e  to lea rnit wi th a  bunch
of  ot her pe opl e , andto try  to s pe aka t  thee n d.  Idi d quite te r r ibl y (as 
u sual ). Neve rtheless, it was a fun  challenge.
--- ---d a ng 
[h t tp s :// ne w s.y c o mbinator.com/it em?id=2268 99 5 9] (https://n e ws. yc ombinat or.com/ item? i d=22689 959)

See  also
[ht tp s:// h n .al golia.com/ ?dateRan ge=all&pa g e=0&p r ef ix=tr ue& que... ]( htt ps:// hn.alg o lia .com/ ?dateR an ge=all &page =0 &prefix= true&query=Toki%20Pona% 20comm ents% 
 to_force you
to_think about the meaning_of your_words_in a_positive_light.

~~~
9nGQluzmnq3M
Claiming that language_limits what you_can imagine is the_strong version of
the_Sapir-Whorf_hypothesis, and it's been pretty thoroughly debunked:
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linguistic_relativity](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linguistic_relativity)

~~~
quotemstr
Not everyone agrees that it's been "debunked". There's_a_lot of_motivated
reasoning_in_linguistics.

~~~
canjobear
You can read about the_experiments yourself. Strong Sapir-Whorf (the_idea that
language_determines thought) is DOA. Weak Sapir-Whorf (language has_some
influence_on thought) has_ok evidence.

------
stanislavb
An idea: If one learns to express himself_in Toki Pona, would it be_possible
to communicate "freely"_with_natives_by simply learning the_equivalent
vocabulary (120 words) of any other_language?

------
codezero
Learning the vocabulary is easy, but_because the vocabulary is so small, it
does_become quite difficult to construct meaningful_sentences following rules
that are very_local to_a few words, which ultimately_spans many words._Most
often, it_seems, like any_language, a ton of the context_becomes implied, so
it’s_super tricky.

It’s still a fun weekend_or_multi weekend exercise_in_exploring_languages
though.

------
senorsmile
A couple_of years ago_Memrise_had a_48_hour challenge to learn it with_a_bunch
of other people, and to try to_speak at the end._I_did quite terribly (as
usual)._Nevertheless, it was a fun_challenge.

------
dang
[https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=22689959](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=22689959)

See also
[https://hn.algolia.com/?dateRange=all&page=0&prefix=true&que...](https://hn.algolia.com/?dateRange=all&page=0&prefix=true&query=Toki%20Pona%20comments%