Toki Pona Sign Language

The following description of toki pona luka (Toki Pona sign language) is copied as it appears in Toki Pona: The Language of Good by Sonja Lang, the creator of Toki Pona.

Sign Language

Signed Toki Pona ( toki pona luka ) is a silent version of Toki Pona that uses hand gestures. This can be useful, for example:

 in a quiet library or house of worship,

 during covert ninja operations,

 diving underwater for treasure, or

 while taunting rival Lojbanists with gang signs.



Each word and letter has its own sign. To form a sentence, perform each sign, one after an other, using the same grammar and word order you already know.

Elements of a Sign

Each sign can be described using four elements:

1. hand shape

2. location on the body

3. palm orientation

4. whether one hand or both hands



Hand Shapes

There are nine basic hand shapes used in Signed Toki Pona. These describe the right hand.

flat hand thumb-fist bent hand wiggling hand 1 hand 2 hand O hand L hand F hand

Locations on the Body

For each sign, the right hand goes to a particular location.

1. in front of chest

2. at side of forehead

3. at side of chin

4. at left shoulder

5. at left elbow

6. on top of left fist

7. on stomach

8. under left slanted forearm

Orientations

Most signs are described by the direction that the palm of the right hand faces. A few signs are described by the orientation that a particular finger points.

1. left

2. up

3. down

4. forward

5. back

One Hand or Both Hands

Most signs are performed with the right hand at the required location. A few signs are performed with both hands in a symmetrical way. In the description below, the hand shape, location and palm orientation of the right hand is given. Then, if the sign requires both hands, you must mirror the same gesture with the left hand.

Examples

kasi

F hand on top of left fist,

palm facing down o (letter)

O hand under left slanted forearm,

palm facing down tomo

bent hand in front of chest,

palm facing left (both hands) suli

2 hand at side of forehead,

palm facing forward