Toki Pona the Language of Bad - Toki Pona is a Bad Conlang

Summary

In this video, the creator humorously critiques the constructed language Toki Pona, pointing out several flaws in its design. They argue that Toki Pona is overly complicated to understand due to its reliance on compounding words and its simplistic syllable structure. The speaker mocks its popularity among online communities, particularly those who claim to speak it as a second language, and critiques its relevance in the modern world. They also argue that its vocabulary, based heavily on languages like Georgian and Finnish, complicates learning rather than simplifying it. Ultimately, the video calls for a rethinking of Toki Pona's design.

Takeaways

• 😀 The speaker criticizes Toki Pona for being hard to understand due to its reliance on compounding simple roots to create more complex words.
• 😀 Toki Pona's syllable structure is described as overly simplistic, making it challenging to form words and communicate effectively in the language.
• 😀 The speaker believes Toki Pona is mainly used by people online to give the illusion of knowing a second language, especially within niche communities.
• 😀 The language's simplicity, while intended to be a feature, is seen as a flaw by the speaker, as it makes actual communication more difficult.
• 😀 Toki Pona is compared to George Orwell's *1984*, with the speaker suggesting that its underlying philosophy can control thought and expression.
• 😀 The speaker takes issue with Toki Pona’s treatment of concepts like gender and spirits, calling them nonsensical or irrelevant.
• 😀 Toki Pona’s vocabulary, drawn from languages like Georgian and Finnish, is criticized for making it difficult to learn for most people, as these languages are not widely spoken.
• 😀 The speaker suggests that Toki Pona could be more accessible if it were based on a more universally recognized language, like English.
• 😀 The community around Toki Pona is portrayed as consisting mainly of people who use the language for online status or as a means to belong, rather than for real-world communication.
• 😀 In conclusion, the speaker proposes that Toki Pona should be replaced by a more practical and easier-to-learn language, ideally based on simplified English or another major language.

Q & A

What is the speaker's main critique about Toki Pona's structure?

The speaker criticizes Toki Pona's reliance on compound words and simplified grammar, arguing that this makes the language difficult to understand, especially when used to form more complex sentences.

Why does the speaker believe Toki Pona's syllable structure is problematic?

The speaker believes Toki Pona's syllable structure is too simple, which makes it harder to pronounce and lacks the complexity needed for easier speech. They suggest using more complex syllable structures and consonants for ease of pronunciation.

How does the speaker view Toki Pona's role in online communities?

The speaker views Toki Pona as a language mostly used by online communities, particularly those with cartoon profile pictures, who use it to claim knowledge of a second language and feel part of a niche community, rather than for practical communication.

What comparison does the speaker make between Toki Pona and Orwell's '1984'?

The speaker compares Toki Pona's design to Orwell’s *1984*, suggesting that the language promotes an oversimplified worldview and includes concepts that reflect controversial philosophical ideas, like views on depression and gender.

What does the speaker think about the vocabulary of Toki Pona?

The speaker criticizes Toki Pona’s vocabulary, claiming that many of the words are derived from languages like Georgian and Finnish, making it difficult for most people to learn. They propose using more familiar language sources, like English, to make it easier to learn.

What alternative pronunciation system does the speaker suggest for Toki Pona?

The speaker suggests an alternative vowel and consonant system where vowels are easier to pronounce, and consonants are simplified, such as changing 'P' to 'V' and making 'L' easier to pronounce.

What does the speaker think about the practicality of Toki Pona as a second language?

The speaker believes Toki Pona is not a practical second language because it doesn’t serve a useful purpose beyond online communities, unlike languages like Spanish, which offer real-world benefits for communication and job opportunities.

How does the speaker describe the typical challenges Toki Pona speakers face?

The speaker humorously suggests that the biggest challenge for Toki Pona speakers is dealing with trivial everyday situations, like being told to pause a game by their parents, implying that their struggles are far removed from real-world language challenges.

What does the speaker propose as a better alternative to Toki Pona?

The speaker proposes creating a language that is simpler, easier to pronounce, and based more closely on familiar languages like English. They suggest using around 500 roots based on English or possibly Proto-Indo-European to create a more accessible and practical language.

What is the overall tone of the speaker towards Toki Pona and its speakers?

The overall tone of the speaker is sarcastic and critical, with a mix of humor and frustration. They mock the simplicity of Toki Pona, its online community, and its purpose, while offering alternative ideas for how a constructed language could be more useful and practical.