Toki Pona: an attempted universal language with only ~120 words
I&#x27;ve been delving deep into the structure of toki pona and noticed some intriguing gaps:<p>Abstract concepts - The language seems to skate over complex philosophical or scientific ideas. You won&#x27;t find an easy way to express ideas like &quot;justice&quot; or &quot;quantum&quot;. It&#x27;s a testament to its minimalist design, but it also means some concepts are lost in translation.<p>Specific flora&#x2F;fauna - While you can use terms like &quot;kili&quot;, &quot;kala&quot;, or &quot;soweli&quot; to describe plants, fish, or mammals, respectively, don&#x27;t expect to convey specific species such as &quot;maple tree&quot; or &quot;cat&quot;. It&#x27;s a broad brush approach that lacks granularity.<p>Intensive modifiers - Toki pona leans hard on the word &quot;mute&quot; for intensifiers. This simplification might hinder nuanced expressions, as there&#x27;s a big gap between &quot;mute&quot; and a neutral descriptor.<p>Collective nouns - The language only really has &quot;kulupu&quot; to describe collectives. So, distinguishing between, say, a &quot;flock&quot; and a &quot;crowd&quot; might get tricky.<p>Idiomatic phrases - A repertoire of idioms or set phrases for common topics would make conversations feel more culturally rich and engaging. It&#x27;s one thing to communicate efficiently, but another to do so with character and flair.<p>This isn&#x27;t criticism but an observation of the trade-offs made for simplicity. Every language has its quirks, and understanding these nuances can make for a richer linguistic experience.