How does Tok Pisin get by with just a few prepositions?

Question

I know the language only has 'two' prepositions (though there seems to be a some dispute to that). Regardless, the two prepositions 'long' and 'bilong' seem to be quite broad in definition.

I do wonder though how this works in practice. Note that I've been having a hard time finding information about the language other than 'introductory' grammars. Like, has there been any major publications or translations in the language? Is the language so context sensitive that it doesn't work when written? Can you explain complex thoughts in it? Like, can you debate philosophy or science or what not. Does anyone speak nothing but Tok Pisin?

I'm asking this because there's lots of auxlangs out there that try to be minimalistic, with some rediculing languages that have more than Tok Pisin.

Of course, I know such a minimal list isn't always what it seems. Like Tagalog, which just marks everything on the verb. I think the Polynesian languages do this too to an extent. Essentially, the verb takes markings (well, I think the Polynesian languages use particles, but not like that's relevant) that give more precise meanings to the prepositions. For example, they only have one generic preposition for locations, they use affixes/particles to disambiguate whether the one locative preposition means 'in, on, outside of, etc...' But to my knowledge Tok Pisin doesn't do this. You just have to rely on context on common sense it seems to figure out the intended meaning.

Answer 1

According to the Tok Pisin Wikibook, Tok Pisin does have compound prepositions beyond the two "basic" prepositions.

There are two basic prepositions in Tok Pisin: bilong and long.

• bilong is used for attribution. Examples: haus bilong mi, My home; Han bilong diwai, Arm of a tree; branch.
• long is used as a universal preposition for other meanings.

Nevertheless, there is one other self standing preposition: wantaim, with.

There are also all kinds of compound prepositions like ananit long, under; insait long, in; antap long, on, above, etc.

So Tok Pisin does have more than two prepositions when there is a need to make a distinction between different ones.

However, a lack of prepositions doesn't necessarily mean that it's impossible to express complex philosophical ideas — it just means that the ideas are different than what we're used to. For instance, Ugaritic doesn't distinguish between motion towards ("to") and motion away ("from"), both being l /li/. But many cases in which it would be natural for an English speaker to say "to" use the preposition "with" (‘m /ʕimma/). I don't speak Tok Pisin, but the case could be similar here.

Answer 2

Besides the compounds as b_a explained, simple context will get you a long way. Below I have rewritten Sylvia Plath's prepositions using only long and bilong.

My grandfather and I had a standing joke. He was the head waiter bilong a country club bilong close my home town, and every Sunday my grandmother drove here long bring him home long his Monday off. My brother and I alternated going long, and my grandfather always served Sunday supper long my grandmother and whichever of us was there, long suppose we were regular club guests. He loved introducing me long special tidbits, and bilong age nine I had developed a passionate taste long cold vichyssoise and caviar and anchovy paste.

The joke was that long my wedding my grandfather would see I had all the caviar I could eat. It was a joke because I never intended long marry, and even if I did, my grandfather couldn't have afforded enough caviar unless he robbed the country club kitchen and carried it away long a suitcase.