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This page answers some '''frequently asked questions''' about Toaq. | |||
=== | == Getting started == | ||
=== Where do I start learning? === | |||
Try [[Toaq with Ease]] or the [[Grammar overview]]. The most complete resource is the [[refgram]]. | |||
=== | === "Complementizer"? "Covert"? I don't understand the refgram at all! === | ||
Don't worry, that's okay! It was written for an audience of linguists, not language learners. Focus on the example sentences if you feel lost in the jargon. If you don't understand a concept, try searching this wiki. You can also ask questions on [[Discord]]. | |||
=== What does tone | === How do I type the tone marks/symbols/diacritics? === | ||
See [[Input methods]]. | |||
{| | |||
== Speaking and writing == | |||
=== How many tones are there? What does each tone do? === | |||
There are four tones, but each one has various uses depending on the part of speech they are used with. Simplifying things a lot, {{Done|1}} is for particles and verbs, {{Done|2}} is for particles and (pro)nouns, {{Done|3}} marks subordination, and {{Done|4}} is for adverbs. See [[Tone]] for a thorough overview. <!--{{Tone table}}--> | |||
| | === How do you pronounce…? === | ||
Please refer to https://toaq.net/refgram/phonology/. | |||
=== What's up with the letter {{t|q}} in this language? Pronunciation of {{t|q}} === | |||
{{t|q}} is somewhat special and its pronunciation may not be immediately obvious. It is pronounced like English ⟨ng⟩ (IPA [ŋ]). The use of the letter Q is a nod to [https://loglangs.wiki/Ceqli Rex May’s Ceqli], an international auxiliary language with loglang elements; it’s also found in natural languages such as Fijian (where it represents [ᵑɡ], to be exact). | |||
| | === What's with the ı / i without dot / dotless i? === | ||
Writing ı without the dot distinguishes it more from an i that carries a tone mark, it also makes more room for an adjacent tone mark. Overall, it just makes things easier to read. See [[Latin writing system]]. | |||
== Grammar == | |||
=== Can I fill fewer slots than a verb has? === | |||
|} | Probably! See [[Underfilling]]. | ||
=== How do I skip slots? (What's the equivalent of Lojban's <code>FA</code>?) === | |||
Toaq intentionally doesn't have this feature. Just fill the slots with [[pronoun]]s. | |||
=== How does {{t|bọ}} work? What is the meaning / place structure of {{t|bọdo}}? === | |||
Semi-officially, it moves the direct object to the front, and removes the old subject. See [[bo-]]. | |||
=== How do numbers work? === | |||
The official number system is that numbers are just verbs: {{t|saq}} means "___ are three in number", so {{t|Saq jío}} means "the buildings are three" and {{t|sá jıo saq}} means "some buildings that are three" (three buildings). | |||
A more elaborate unofficial number system is described at [[User:Loekıa/Numbers]]. | |||
<!-- | |||
=== What's the difference between an indirect question and a {{t|ꝡé}} phrase? === | |||
The distinction is extremely important logically speaking, but English usually conflates the two, so many people overlook the difference. The following example illustrates the difference: | |||
# {{t|Dua jí ꝡä chı súq hí raı.}} = "I know ''what'' you believe" | |||
# {{t|Dua jí ꝡé chı súq hóa.}} = "I ''know'' what you believe" | |||
Let's say that what you believe is [God exists]. | |||
# says that I know that you believe [God exists], because I know what it is that you believe | |||
# says that I know that [God exists] is true, because I know that which you believe to be true. | |||
--> | |||
== Tools and resources == | |||
=== | === Is there a way to check whether my sentence is correct? / Is there a translator from Toaq to logic notation? === | ||
You can use [[Kuna]]'s web interface [https://toaq.net/kuna/ here]. | |||
=== | === How can I join the [[Discord]] server? === | ||
Use [https://discord.gg/qDqDsH9 this invite link]. | |||
=== | === Is there a frequency list? === | ||
Yes! See [https://github.com/toaq/corpus/blob/main/frequency-list.txt frequency-list.txt] in the [https://github.com/toaq/corpus/ corpus] repo. | |||
=== Is there a list of translated sentences? === | |||
[https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1bCQoaX02ZyaElHiiMcKHFemO4eV1MEYmYloYZgOAhac/edit#gid=1395088029 This spreadsheet] has up-to-date example sentences in the "Refgram examples" and "A sentences" sheets. <!-- | |||
=== Where does the Toaq logo come from? === | === Where does the Toaq logo come from? === | ||
✅ It's original. | ✅ It's original. | ||
=== Are the Toaq logo, flag, or colors based on the transgender flag? === | |||
✅ No, it's a coincidence that they share the same colors.<ref>Quote from Hoemaı on Discord: <blockquote> | |||
This comes up a lot, so maybe I should tell the whole story of how those colors came to be.<br>It was around 2015 while I was working on/planning my second Lojban album (which was originally meant to "just" be an EP). One of the cover designs had pink and light blue text on a black background (neon style), and it was then that I realized how much I liked that color combo. Coincidentally, it wasn't much later that I had to pick colors for Toaq, and so I picked those. This was long before I had ever seen the trans flag. So the answer to the common question "is it a coincidence that they share the same colors?" is Yes. | |||
</blockquote> | |||
</ref> | |||
=== Is "Toaq" based on the word "tongue" or "tone"? === | === Is "Toaq" based on the word "tongue" or "tone"? === | ||
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=== How are roots created? === | === How are roots created? === | ||
✅ A priori, based on my intuition. I usually have to think long and hard and feel my options out before I decide what root to assign to a concept. | ✅ The author described the process as: "A priori, based on my intuition. I usually have to think long and hard and feel my options out before I decide what root to assign to a concept." | ||
Recently, many words are created by community consensus on [[Toadua]], including root words, using a variety of methods. | |||
=== Where can I find a dictionary? === | === Where can I find a dictionary? === | ||
Line 58: | Line 89: | ||
| nho || zı | | nho || zı | ||
|- | |- | ||
| | | Nu da. || Bu nu da. | ||
|- | |- | ||
| | | Juna hóq da. || Sahu hóq da. | ||
|} | |} | ||
=== X seems to be missing from the language. Why does Toaq not have X? === | === X seems to be missing from the language. Why does Toaq not have X? === | ||
✅ Part of the philosophy behind the initial design was that I didn't want to over-engineer the language. Lojban (to name a random example) started out with a boatload of complicated rules that turned out not to be beneficial. I would rather start out with too few rules and only add extensions when it's clearly needed, avoiding clutter. | ✅ Part of the philosophy behind the initial design was that I didn't want to over-engineer the language. Lojban (to name a random example) started out with a boatload of complicated rules that turned out not to be beneficial. I would rather start out with too few rules and only add extensions when it's clearly needed, avoiding clutter. | ||
In doing so, I'm also giving the language the chance to grow organically with the help of its speakers. | In doing so, I'm also giving the language the chance to grow organically with the help of its speakers. | ||
=== Is there really a glottal stop in the {{t|ä}} | === Is there really a glottal stop in the {{t|ä}} tone? === | ||
✅ Yes. | ✅ Yes. | ||
=== How new/old is Toaq? === | === How new/old is Toaq? === | ||
✅ The current version was published in | ✅ The current version was published in December 2022. The very first version alpha version was published in 2013. | ||
=== What's the difference between {{t|ceo}} and {{t|sho}}? === | === What's the difference between {{t|ceo}} and {{t|sho}}? === | ||
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{{t|ceo}} says that a thing begins to be the case, which can be said of things that don't priorly exist or are the case. {{t|sho}} on the other hand can be said of things that already exist; they merely undergo a change that makes them become such that they now have a certain property they previously did not. | {{t|ceo}} says that a thing begins to be the case, which can be said of things that don't priorly exist or are the case. {{t|sho}} on the other hand can be said of things that already exist; they merely undergo a change that makes them become such that they now have a certain property they previously did not. | ||
Both are appropriate in most situations. | Both are appropriate in most situations. | ||
=== What's the process for creating taxonomic vocabulary (animals/plants)? === | === What's the process for creating taxonomic vocabulary (animals/plants)? === | ||
✅ The process follows these steps: | ✅ The process follows these steps: | ||
; Find the scientific name of the animal or plant | #; Find the scientific name of the animal or plant | ||
: | #: Let's use butterfly and spider as examples. | ||
; Check the etymology of the name. | # | ||
: For "butterfly" the order is called "Lepidoptera", for "spider" we get "Araneae" | #; Check the etymology of the name. | ||
; If the name is a compound, make a calque of the compound. | #: For "butterfly" the order is called "Lepidoptera", for "spider" we get "Araneae" | ||
: This is the case for "Lepidoptera", which is put together from λεπίς (lepís, "scale") and πτερόν (pterón, "wing"). | # | ||
Translating "scale wing", we arrive at the Toaq word for butterfly: {{t|tıqshoaı}} | #; If the name is a compound, make a calque of the compound. | ||
; If the name is not a compound, follow the etymology as far back as possible, then borrow that word.* | #: This is the case for "Lepidoptera", which is put together from λεπίς (lepís, "scale") and πτερόν (pterón, "wing"). | ||
: This is the case for "Araneae", which can be traced back to Ancient Greek ἀράχνη (arákhnē). Toaq-ifying yields {{t|arane}}, which is our word for spider. | #: Translating "scale wing", we arrive at the Toaq word for butterfly: {{t|tıqshoaı}} | ||
# | |||
#; If the name is not a compound, follow the etymology as far back as possible, then borrow that word.* | |||
#: This is the case for "Araneae", which can be traced back to Ancient Greek ἀράχνη (arákhnē). Toaq-ifying yields {{t|arane}}, which is our word for spider. | |||
=== What's the vowel order? === | === What's the vowel order? === | ||
✅ A U I O E | ✅ {{t|A U I O E}} | ||
--> | |||
=== | <!-- | ||
✅ | === What's the terminator of X? === | ||
✅ Unlike some other loglangs like Lojban and Loglan, modern Toaq doesn't feature any terminators at all! Instead, clauses can be closed by [[Auto-terminating clauses|filling every argument]], [[cleft]] structures, and connecting with a [[conjunction]] to another clause in the same scope. | |||
=== | === Is there an automatic interpreter of Toaq? Is there a translator from Toaq to logic notation? === | ||
✅ Indeed there is (for a slightly outdated version of Toaq called [[Toaq Gamma]])! | |||
✅ | |||
Go to https://toaq.net/zugai/ and select logic. Note that Zugaı is still in development, so some things may not work as expected. | |||
; See article: [[Zugaı]] | |||
; See article: [[ | |||
=== How do you say "I'm making some coffee" in Toaq? === | === How do you say "I'm making some coffee" in Toaq? === | ||
☕ 404 | ☕ 404 ({{T|Baı jí báq kafe.}}) | ||
=== What does {{t| | === What does {{t|kú}} ("focus") mean? === | ||
✅ Here's an explanation: https://toaqlanguage.wordpress.com/2018/06/01/on-the-logic-of-ku/ | ✅ Here's an explanation: https://toaqlanguage.wordpress.com/2018/06/01/on-the-logic-of-ku/ | ||
=== Is there a way to mark contrastive focus or emphasis? === | === Is there a way to mark contrastive focus or emphasis? === | ||
✅ Yes, by using {{t| | ✅ Yes, by using {{t|béı}} in front the word. | ||
=== What's the system for referring to nationalities/languages/countries? === | === What's the system for referring to nationalities/languages/countries? === | ||
✅ This is the system: | ✅ This is the system: | ||
Take the country's native name or the native adjective describing the nationality and borrow it. This borrowing now refers generically to anything having to do with the country or its culture. | Take the country's native name or the native adjective describing the nationality and borrow it. This borrowing now refers generically to anything having to do with the country or its culture. | ||
: For example, {{t|Juqguo}} ("China") means "to be Chinese, to be of China, its languages or people". | : For example, {{t|Juqguo}} ("China") means "to be Chinese, to be of China, its languages or people". | ||
Line 155: | Line 161: | ||
: {{t|Juqguogua}}, "China". | : {{t|Juqguogua}}, "China". | ||
: {{t|Faraqsegua}}, "France". | : {{t|Faraqsegua}}, "France". | ||
To refer to a language, add | To refer to a language, add zu ("language"). | ||
: {{t|Faraqsezu}}, "the French language". | : {{t|Faraqsezu}}, "the French language". | ||
: {{t|Juqguozu}} is ambiguous between the many languages of China, "a Chinese language". | : {{t|Juqguozu}} is ambiguous between the many languages of China, "a Chinese language". | ||
Line 202: | Line 208: | ||
| 90 || = || {{t|neıheı }} | | 90 || = || {{t|neıheı }} | ||
|- | |- | ||
| 21 || = || {{t| | | 21 || = || {{t|guheı shı }} | ||
|- | |- | ||
| 34 || = || {{t| | | 34 || = || {{t|saqheı jo }} | ||
|- | |- | ||
| 83 || = || {{t| | | 83 || = || {{t|roaıheı saq}} | ||
|} | |} | ||
--> | |||
=== | <!-- | ||
✅ | === How do I do an indirect quote? === | ||
✅ Use {{T|ꝡä}}+predicate with {{T|ruaq}} or {{T|duatua}} for indirect assertions and {{T|duasue}} for indirect questions: | |||
* {{t|Ruaq hó ꝡä bu tı hó chíejıo.}} = "She says [that] she isn't at school." | |||
: {{t|Duatua hó jí ꝡä tı hó hí raı.}} = "He told me where he is." | |||
: {{t|Duasue hó jí ꝡä bua jí hí raı.}} = "They asked me where I live." | |||
: {{t| | |||
: {{t| | |||
=== Is there a memrise deck? === | === Is there a memrise deck? === | ||
✅ There is: https://www.memrise.com/course/1974691/toaq-simple-predicates-2018-06-03/ | ✅ There is, but it is outdated: https://www.memrise.com/course/1974691/toaq-simple-predicates-2018-06-03/ | ||
--> | |||
<!-- | |||
=== Is there a subreddit? === | === Is there a subreddit? === | ||
✅ Yes: https://old.reddit.com/r/Toaq/ | ✅ Yes: https://old.reddit.com/r/Toaq/ | ||
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=== What are the personal pronouns? === | === What are the personal pronouns? === | ||
✅ Toaq's 'pronouns' are verbs. Instead of a word for "I/me", there's a verb meaning "to be me". These are the personal reference predicates: | ✅ Toaq's 'pronouns' are verbs. Instead of a word for "I/me", there's a verb meaning "to be me". These are the personal reference predicates: | ||
{| | {| class=wikitable | ||
| {{t| | | me || colspan=4 | || = || {{t|jí}} || ''I, me'' | ||
|- | |||
| colspan=2 | || you || colspan=2 | || = || {{t|súq}} || ''you'' | |||
|- | |||
| colspan=2 | || you || colspan=2 | || = || {{t|súna}} || ''you'' (plural) | |||
|- | |- | ||
| | | colspan=4 | || they || = || {{t|nháo}} || ''they/them, he/him, she/her'' | ||
|- | |- | ||
| | | colspan="4" | | ||
|they | |||
|= | |||
|{{T|nhána}} | |||
|''they/them'' (plural) | |||
|- | |- | ||
| | | colspan="2" | || you || + || they || = || {{t|súo}} || ''you all'' | ||
|- | |- | ||
| | | me || + || you || colspan=2 | || = || {{t|úmı}} || ''we, us'' | ||
|- | |- | ||
| | | me || colspan=2 | || + || they || = || {{t|íme}} || ''we, us'' | ||
|- | |- | ||
| | | me || + || you || + || they || = || {{t|áma}} || ''we, us'' | ||
|} | |} | ||
; See article: [[Pronoun]] | ; See article: [[Pronoun]] | ||
=== How do you make a plural? How do you pluralize a noun? === | === How do you make a plural? How do you pluralize a noun? === | ||
✅ Toaq nouns are not inflected for grammatical number. Any noun can refer to one or more things. When necessary, singular and plural can be made explicit: | ✅ Toaq nouns are not inflected for grammatical number. Any noun can refer to one or more things. When necessary, singular and plural can be made explicit: | ||
* To specify a singular, use {{t|nẹshı}} ("one") as an adjective. | |||
*: Example: {{t|jío nẹshı}} "the [one] building" (explicit singular) | |||
* To specify a plural, use puq ("multiple") as an adjective. | |||
*: Example: {{t|jío puq}} "the [more than one] buildings" (explicit plural). | |||
Marking number is never required. It is usually obvious (or not terribly important) whether something is one thing or more than one thing. When in doubt, read a bare noun as plural unless context suggests otherwise. | Marking number is never required. It is usually obvious (or not terribly important) whether something is one thing or more than one thing. When in doubt, read a bare noun as plural unless context suggests otherwise. | ||
--> | |||
<!-- Unlike previous versions of Toaq, {{t|q}} does not have any allophonic variation - that is, it is always [ŋ] - because syllables may also end with {{t|m}}, which needs to stay distinct. --> | |||
<!-- | |||
=== What are the words for the days of the week and for the months? === | === What are the words for the days of the week and for the months? === | ||
✅ The names for the days of the week are based on the colors of the rainbow, starting with red on Monday and ending with purple on Sunday: | ✅ The names for the days of the week are based on the colors of the rainbow, starting with red on Monday and ending with purple on Sunday: | ||
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| December || {{t|heıgujue}} | | December || {{t|heıgujue}} | ||
|} | |} | ||
--> | |||
<!-- | |||
=== Does Toaq have a flag? === | === Does Toaq have a flag? === | ||
✅ This is a candidate design: | ✅ This is a candidate design: | ||
https://media.giphy.com/media/ggK1ZflC7o7OLMJ3Xk/giphy.gif | https://media.giphy.com/media/ggK1ZflC7o7OLMJ3Xk/giphy.gif | ||
== References == | |||
<references /> | |||
--> |
Revision as of 22:26, 25 July 2024
This page answers some frequently asked questions about Toaq.
Getting started
Where do I start learning?
Try Toaq with Ease or the Grammar overview. The most complete resource is the refgram.
"Complementizer"? "Covert"? I don't understand the refgram at all!
Don't worry, that's okay! It was written for an audience of linguists, not language learners. Focus on the example sentences if you feel lost in the jargon. If you don't understand a concept, try searching this wiki. You can also ask questions on Discord.
How do I type the tone marks/symbols/diacritics?
See Input methods.
Speaking and writing
How many tones are there? What does each tone do?
There are four tones, but each one has various uses depending on the part of speech they are used with. Simplifying things a lot, is for particles and verbs,
is for particles and (pro)nouns,
marks subordination, and
is for adverbs. See Tone for a thorough overview.
How do you pronounce…?
Please refer to https://toaq.net/refgram/phonology/.
What's up with the letter q in this language? Pronunciation of q
q is somewhat special and its pronunciation may not be immediately obvious. It is pronounced like English ⟨ng⟩ (IPA [ŋ]). The use of the letter Q is a nod to Rex May’s Ceqli, an international auxiliary language with loglang elements; it’s also found in natural languages such as Fijian (where it represents [ᵑɡ], to be exact).
What's with the ı / i without dot / dotless i?
Writing ı without the dot distinguishes it more from an i that carries a tone mark, it also makes more room for an adjacent tone mark. Overall, it just makes things easier to read. See Latin writing system.
Grammar
Can I fill fewer slots than a verb has?
Probably! See Underfilling.
How do I skip slots? (What's the equivalent of Lojban's FA
?)
Toaq intentionally doesn't have this feature. Just fill the slots with pronouns.
How does bọ work? What is the meaning / place structure of bọdo?
Semi-officially, it moves the direct object to the front, and removes the old subject. See bo-.
How do numbers work?
The official number system is that numbers are just verbs: saq means "___ are three in number", so Saq jío means "the buildings are three" and sá jıo saq means "some buildings that are three" (three buildings).
A more elaborate unofficial number system is described at User:Loekıa/Numbers.
Tools and resources
Is there a way to check whether my sentence is correct? / Is there a translator from Toaq to logic notation?
You can use Kuna's web interface here.
How can I join the Discord server?
Use this invite link.
Is there a frequency list?
Yes! See frequency-list.txt in the corpus repo.
Is there a list of translated sentences?
This spreadsheet has up-to-date example sentences in the "Refgram examples" and "A sentences" sheets.