From kingcats@xxxxxxxxx.xxx Fri Feb 5 13:47:28 1999
X-Digest-Num: 53
Message-ID: <44114.53.211.959273824@eGroups.com>
Date: Fri, 05 Feb 1999 14:47:28 -0700
From: kingcats@xxxxxxxxx.xxx
Subject: Re: Lojban Accent

> > > What does English sound like when spoken with Lojban stress? Very
> > > emphasized, I think.
> >
> > Maybe; there's no way of knowing.
> 
> Lojban speakers will probably not use so much emotional stress in their
> speech, since it isn't required for meaning as it is in English. Stress in
> English is flexible because it must carry different meanings, whereas in
> Lojban it is always on the penultimate syllable. In English this signifies
> emphasis.

One of the problems with the concept of a lojbanic accent is that most
accents are formed culturally, not muscularly. This is like asking what
someone's opinion would be if it were different than mine. Lojban has
no culture of its own, so it would be a blend of the speakers that
taught it.

I disagree about stress being missing from Lojban, though. People raise
and drop their voices based on emotional content as a second nature. In
every language I've ever had any contact with, there's plenty of
imprecise communication that goes on regarding HOW something is said as
opposed to WHAT is said that I doubt many people will be willing to give
that up.

Robert Rapplean