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commit 3456d19b9aff90c33372e5ce8e20119d1527d888
Merge: 53d76a4 b3c220e
Author: Robin Lee Powell
Date: Thu Feb 3 00:14:57 2011 -0800
Merge commit 'b3c220e1eb32de09528b4da0ede1eeae92a75686' into gh-pages
commit 53d76a4209add44a9209f7cd157464a3ac1685f8
Merge: 567f200 bb854a5
Author: Robin Lee Powell
Date: Thu Feb 3 00:09:56 2011 -0800
Merge commit 'bb854a5567fb9c2fbb20c71b00957b440a854196' into gh-pages
commit 567f200f5dbba86fe59f583f08a30a526ae3e3df
Merge: 4499796 7204957
Author: Robin Lee Powell
Date: Wed Feb 2 23:56:27 2011 -0800
Merge commit '72049575be537ccaad711c13847c3a8d496976fd' into gh-pages
commit 4499796358c3763e2641a062f5902635914772ee
Merge: 5a70502 a295b27
Author: Robin Lee Powell
Date: Wed Feb 2 23:56:16 2011 -0800
Merge commit 'a295b27569e8fb02a9f76e34b7b8d579049b0385' into gh-pages
commit 5a70502ca93a3baa45efecc44b9007e0f1b0a1bd
Merge: 0a23b05 3943d8f
Author: Robin Lee Powell
Date: Wed Feb 2 23:29:16 2011 -0800
Merge commit '3943d8f859588dbc75bf01e11c21c523470b6aef' into gh-pages
commit 0a23b05ddec980ee18297861ae3267df8a920a8c
Merge: 32a1f4b 7f71f5d
Author: Robin Lee Powell
Date: Wed Feb 2 23:14:41 2011 -0800
Merge commit '7f71f5d52e3da6b06c48038a68bf06ef8758ef03' into gh-pages
commit b3c220e1eb32de09528b4da0ede1eeae92a75686
Author: Eitan Postavsky
Date: Sat Jan 29 15:46:59 2011 -0500
and to and , since that seems more conventional.
diff --git a/todocbook/13.xml b/todocbook/13.xml
index f526842..018a76f 100644
--- a/todocbook/13.xml
+++ b/todocbook/13.xml
@@ -2691,258 +2691,258 @@
ju'i lobypli.
=20
(Alternatively,=20
doi can be inserted between the COI cmavo and t=
he name, making a pause unnecessary:=20
coi doi djan.)
coi
greetings
=20
-
+
coi<=
/indexterm>=20
Hello, X
;=20
Greetings, X
; indicates a greeting to the listene=
r.
-
+
co'o
partings
=20
-
+
co'o=
=20
Good-bye, X
; indicates parting from immediate com=
pany by either the speaker or the listener.=20
coico'o means=20
greeting in passing
.
-
+
ju'i
[jundi]
attention
at ease
ignore me/us
=20
-
+
ju'i=
=20
Attention/Lo/Hark/Behold/Hey!/Listen, X
; indicate=
s an important communication that the listener should listen to.
-
+
nu'e
[nupre]
promise
release promise
non-promise
=20
-
+
nu'e=
=20
I promise, X
; indicates a promise to the listener=
. In some contexts,=20
nu'e may be prefixed to an oath or other =
formal declaration.
-
+
=20
ta'a
[tavla]
interruption
=20
-
+
ta'e=
=20
I interrupt, X
,=20
I desire the floor, X
; a vocative expression to (=
possibly) interrupt and claim the floor to make a statement or expression. =
This can be used for both rude and polite interruptions, although rude inte=
rruptions will probably tend not to use a vocative at all. An appropriate r=
esponse to an interruption might be=20
re'i (or=20
=20
re'inai to ignore the interruption).
-
+
pe'u
[cpedu]
request
=20
-
+
pe'u=
e'ocontrasted with pe'u pe'ucontrasted with e'o=20
Please, X
; indicates a request to the listener. I=
t is a formal, non-attitudinal, equivalent of=20
.e'o with a specific recipient being addr=
essed. On the other hand,=20
=20
.e'o may be used when there is no specifi=
c listener, but merely a=20
=20
sense of petition floating in the air
, as it were=
.
-
+
ki'e
[ckire]
appreciation
gratitude
disappreciation
ingratitude
=20
-
+
fi'i=
je'e ki'e thank you=
example politenessyou're welcome politene=
ssthank you and you're welcome=
=20
Thank you, X
; indicates appreciation or gratitude=
toward the listener. The usual response is=20
je'e, but=20
=20
fi'i is appropriate on rare occasions: se=
e the explanation of=20
=20
fi'i.
-
+
=20
fi'i
[friti]
welcome
offering
unwelcome
inhospitality
=20
-
+
fi'i=
hospitalityexample you're welcomeje'e contrasted wit=
h fi'i you're welcomefi'i contrasted with je'e=
=20
At your service, X
;=20
Make yourself at home, X
; offers hospitality (pos=
sibly in response to thanks, but not necessarily) to the listener. Note tha=
t=20
=20
fi'i is=20
=20
not the equivalent of American English=20
You're welcome
as a mechanical response to=20
Thank you
; that is=20
je'e, as noted below.
-
+
=20
be'e
[benji]
request to send
=20
-
+
be'e=
telephone conve=
rsationhello=20
Request to send to X
; indicates that the speaker =
wishes to express something, and wishes to ensure that the listener is list=
ening. In a telephone conversation, can be used to request the desired conv=
ersant(s). A more colloquial equivalent is=20
=20
Hello? Can I speak to X?
.
-
+
re'i
[bredi]
ready to receive
not ready
=20
-
+
re'i=
=20
Ready to receive, X
; indicates that the speaker i=
s attentive and awaiting communication from the listener. It can be used in=
stead of=20
mi'e to respond when called to the teleph=
one. The negative form can be used to prevent the listener from continuing =
to talk when the speaker is unable to pay attention: it can be translated=
=20
Hold on!
or=20
Just a minute
.
-
+
mu'o
[mulno]
completion of utterance
more to follow
=20
-
+
mu'o=
=20
Over, X
; indicates that the speaker has completed=
the current utterance and is ready to hear a response from the listener. T=
he negative form signals that the pause or non-linguistic sound which follo=
ws does not represent the end of the current utterance: more colloquially,=
=20
I'm not done talking!
-
+
je'e
[jimpe]
successful receipt
unsuccessful receipt
=20
-
+
je'e=
roger=
example politenessyou're welcome=20
Roger, X!
,=20
I understand
; acknowledges the successful receipt=
of a communication from the listener. The negative form indicates failure =
to receive correctly, and is usually followed by=20
ke'o. The colloquial English equivalents =
of=20
=20
je'e and=20
=20
je'enai are the grunt typically written=
=20
uh-huh
and=20
What?/Excuse me?
.=20
je'e is also used to mean=20
=20
You're welcome
when that is a response to=20
Thank you
.
-
+
vi'o
will comply
will not comply
=20
-
+
vi'o=
vi'o<=
secondary>contrasted with je'e je'econtrasted with vi'o=20
Wilco, X
,=20
I understand and will comply
. Similar to=20
je'e but signals an intention (similar to=
=20
=20
.ai) to comply with th=
e other speaker's request. This cmavo is the main way of saying=20
OK
in Lojban, in the usual sense of=20
Agreed!
, although=20
.ie carries some of th=
e same meaning. The negative form indicates that the message was received b=
ut that you will not comply: a very colloquial version is=20
No way!
.
-
+
ke'o
[krefu]
please repeat
no repeat needed
=20
-
+
ke'o=
ki'a<=
secondary>compared to ke'o ke'ocompared to ki'a=20
What did you say, X?
; a request for repetition or=
clarification due to unsuccessful receipt or understanding. This is the vo=
cative equivalent of=20
ki'a, and is related to=20
je'enai. The negative form may be rendere=
d=20
Okay, already; I get the point!
-
+
fe'o
[fanmo]
end of communication
not done
=20
-
+
fe'o=
=20
Over and out, X
; indicates completion of statemen=
t(s) and communication directed at the identified person(s). Used to termin=
ate a letter if a signature is not required because the sender has already =
been identified (as in memos). The negative form means=20
Wait, hold it, we're not done!
and differs from=
=20
mu'onai in that it means more exchanges a=
re to follow, rather than that the current exchange is incomplete.
-
+
fa'o<=
secondary>contrasted with fe'o fe'ocontrasted with fa'o Do not confuse=20
fe'o with=20
fa'o (selma'o FAhO) which is a mechanical, ex=
tra-grammatical signal that a text is complete. One may say=20
=20
fe'o to one participant of a multi-way conver=
sation and then go on speaking to the others.
mi'e
[cmavo: mi]
self-identification
non-identification
=20
-
+
mi'e=
meexplicitly specifying mi'econtrasted with other me=
mbers of COI =
introduce oneself=20
And I am X
; a generalized self-vocative. Although=
grammatically just like the other members of selma'o COI,=20
mi'e is quite different semantically. In =
particular, rather than specifying the listener, the person whose name (or =
description) follows=20
mi'e is taken to be the speaker. Therefor=
e, using=20
mi'e specifies the meaning of the pro-sum=
ti=20
mi. It can be used to introduce oneself, =
to close letters, or to identify oneself on the telephone.
-
+
=20
re'imi'e fe'omi=
'e mi'=
eeffect of ordering multiple COI COI selma'oordering multiple with mi'e closingsletter This cmavo is often combined with other members of COI:=20
fe'omi'e would be an appropriate closing at the=
end of a letter;=20
=20
re'imi'e would be a self-vocative used in delay=
ed responses, as when called to the phone, or possibly in a roll-call. As l=
ong as the=20
=20
mi'e comes last, the following name is that of =
the speaker; if another COI cmavo is last, the following name is that of th=
e listener. It is not possible to name both speaker and listener in a singl=
e vocative expression, but this fact is of no importance, because wherever =
one vocative expression is grammatical, any number of consecutive ones may =
appear.
mi'enai The negative form denies an identity which someone else ha=
s attributed to you;=20
diff --git a/todocbook/18.xml b/todocbook/18.xml
index 3593a6c..12005da 100644
--- a/todocbook/18.xml
+++ b/todocbook/18.xml
@@ -3301,233 +3301,233 @@
Complete table of VUhU cmavo, with operand structures
The operand structures specify what various operands (labeled a,=
b, c, ...) mean. The implied context is forethought, since only forethough=
t operators can have a variable number of operands; however, the same rules=
apply to infix and RP uses of VUhU.
operatorslist of simple FIXME: TAG SPOT
su'i
plus
- (((a + b) + c) + ...=
)
+ (((a + b) +=
c) + ...)
pi'i
times
- (((a =C3=97 b) =C3=
=97 c) =C3=97 ...)
+ (((a =C3=97=
b) =C3=97 c) =C3=97 ...)
vu'u
minus
- (((a =E2=88=92 b) =
=E2=88=92 c) =E2=88=92 ...)
+ (((a =E2=88=
=92 b) =E2=88=92 c) =E2=88=92 ...)
fe'i
divided by
- (((a / b) / c) / ...=
)
+ (((a / b) /=
c) / ...)
ju'u
number base
- numeral string a interpreted =
in the base b
+ numeral string a int=
erpreted in the base b
pa'i
ratio
- the ratio of a to b<=
/varname> a:b
+ the ratio of a to b a:b
fa'i
reciprocal of/multiplicative inverse
- 1 / a=
inlineequation>
+ 1 / a
gei
scientific notation
- b =C3=97 (c [default 10] to the a power)
+ b =C3=97 (c [default 10] to the a power)
ge'a
null operator
- (no operands)
+ (no operands)
=20
de'o
logarithm
- log a to base b (default 10 or e as appropriate)
+ log a to base b (default 10 or e as appropriate)
te'a
to the power/exponential
- a to the b=
power
+ a to the b<=
/varname> power
fe'a
nth root of/inverse power
- bth root of a (defaul=
t square root: b =3D 2)
+ bth root of =
a (default square root: b =3D 2)
cu'a
absolute value/norm
- | a |=
inlineequation>
+ | a |
ne'o
factorial
- a!
+ a!
pi'a
matrix row vector combiner
- (all operands are row vectors)
+ (all operands are row vectors)
=20
sa'i
matrix column vector combiner
- (all operands are column vectors)
+ (all operands are column vectors)
=20
ri'o
integral
- integral of a with respect to b over range c
+ integral of a with respect to b over ra=
nge c
=20
sa'o
derivative
- derivative of a with respect to b of degree c (d=
efault 1)
+ derivative of a with respect to b of de=
gree c (default 1)
fu'u
non-specific operator
- (variable)
+ (variable)
si'i
sigma (=CE=A3) summation
- summation of a using variable b over range c
+ summation of a using variable b over ra=
nge c
va'a
negation of/additive inverse
- -a
+ -a
re'a
matrix transpose/dual
- a*
+ a*
Complete table of PA cmavo: digits, punctuation, and other numb=
ers.
digitslist of decimal Decimal digits:
no
non
- 0
+ 0
pa
pav
- 1
+ 1
re
rel
- 2
+ 2
ci
cib
- 3
+ 3
vo
von
- 4
+ 4
mu
mum
- 5
+ 5
xa
xav
- 6
+ 6
ze
zel
- 7
+ 7
bi
biv
- 8
+ 8
so
soz
- 9
+ 9
digitslist of hexadecimal Hexadecimal digit=
s:
dau
- A/10
+ A/10
fei
- B/11
+ B/11
gai
- C/12
+ C/12
jau
- D/13
+ D/13
rei
- E/14
+ E/14
vai
- F/15
+ F/15
numberslist of special Special numbers:
pai
- =CF=80
+ =CF=80
ka'o
- imaginary i
+ imaginary i
te'o
- exponential e
+ exponential e
ci'i
- infinity (=E2=88=9E)
+ infinity (=E2=88=9E)
punctuation=
primary>list of numerical Number punctua=
tion:
pi
piz
decimal point
commit bb854a5567fb9c2fbb20c71b00957b440a854196
Author: Eitan Postavsky
Date: Sat Jan 29 15:38:58 2011 -0500
Chapter 10: summary s to s. Invented
role=3D"direction" and role=3D"movement" for .
=20
The two roles are for the table at the end of chapter 10.
diff --git a/todocbook/10.xml b/todocbook/10.xml
index 67191e2..5c81c50 100644
--- a/todocbook/10.xml
+++ b/todocbook/10.xml
@@ -654,24 +654,22 @@
mi pu klama le zarci
I [past] go-to the market.
really means:
- At a moment in the past, and possibly other moments as
- well, the event=20
-I went to the market
was in progress.
-
+ At a moment in the past, and possibly other moments as well, the eve=
nt I went to the market
was in progress.
+
tense direction=
primary>implications on scope of event =
past eventpossible extension into present The vague or unsp=
ecified interval contains an instant in the speaker's past. However, there =
is no indication whether or not the whole interval is in the speaker's past=
! It is entirely possible that the interval during which the going-to-the-m=
arket is happening stretches into the speaker's present or even future.
tenseLojban contrasted with English in implications of completeness=20
points up a fundamental dif=
ference between Lojban tenses and English tenses. An English past-tense sen=
tence like=20
I went to the market
generally signifies that the going=
-to-the-market is entirely in the past; that is, that the event is complete=
at the time of speaking. Lojban=20
pu has no such implication.
tenseaorist aoristdefinition =
Classical Greek aorist tense<=
/primary>compared with Lojban tense This=
property of a past tense is sometimes called=20
aorist
, in reference to a similar concept in the tense =
system of Classical Greek. All of the Lojban tenses have the same property,=
however:
=20
=20
@@ -1746,21 +1744,21 @@
I [past] [sticky] go-to the market. The man [past] bites th=
e dog.
Here the second=20
pu does not replace the sticky tense, but adds =
to it, in the sense that the starting point of its imaginary journey is tak=
en to be the previously set sticky time. So the translation of=20
is:
- I went to the market. The man had earlier bitten the dog.
+ I went to the market. The man had earlier bitten the dog.
=20
compound tensecompared with tense in scope of sticky tense<=
/indexterm> tense in scope o=
f sticky tensecompared with compound tense=
and it is equivalent in meaning (when considered in isolation =
from any other sentences) to:
mi pu klama le zarci .i le nanmu pupu batci le gerku
I [past] go-to the market. The man [past] [past] bites the =
dog.
@@ -3271,34 +3269,34 @@
seka'a le briju
With-destination the office.
modal-or-tense qu=
estionspre-specifying some information tense-or-modal ques=
tionspre-specifying some information cu'ecombining with other tense cmavo The only way t=
o combine=20
cu'e with other tense cmavo is through logical =
connection, which makes a question that pre-specifies some information:
- when elseexample sowed grainexample FIXME: TAG SPOT
+ when elseexample sowed grainexample FIXME: TAG SPOT
do puzi je cu'e sombo le gurni
You [past] [short] and [when?] sow the grain?
You sowed the grain a little while ago; when else do you sow i=
t?
=20
Additionally, the logical connective itself can be replaced by a=
question word:
- tense questionsby using logical connective question=
FIXME: TAG SPOT
+ tense questions=
primary>by using logical connective question FIXME: TAG SPOT
la .artr. pu je'i ba nolraitru
=20
Arthur [past] [which?] [future] is-a-king
Was Arthur a king or will he be?
@@ -3361,372 +3359,432 @@
.a'o do pu seju ba roroi ca'o fe'e su'oroi jimpe fi le lojbo =
temci selsku ciste
Summary of tense selma'o
tense selma'osummary of FIXME: TAG SPOT
-
- PU
-
- temporal direction
-
- pu
- past
- ca
- present
- ba
- future
-
-
-
-
- ZI
-
- temporal distance
-
- zi
- short
- za
- medium
- zu
- long
-
-
-
-
- ZEhA
-
- temporal interval
-
- ze'i
- short
- ze'a
- medium
- ze'u
- long
- ze'e
- infinite
-
-
-
-
- ROI
-
- objective quantified tense flag
-
- noroi
- never
- paroi
- once
- ...
- roroi
- always
- etc.
- pare'u
- the first time
- rere'u
- the second time
- etc.
-
-
-
-
- TAhE
-
- subjective quantified tense
-
- di'i
- regularly
- na'o
- typically
- ru'i
- continuously
- ta'e
- habitually
-
-
-
-
- ZAhO
-
- event contours
- see
-
-
-
- FAhA
-
- spatial direction
- see
-
-
-
- VA
-
- spatial distance
-
- vi
- short
- va
- medium
- vu
- long
-
-
-
-
- VEhA
-
- spatial interval
-
- ve'i
- short
- ve'a
- medium
- ve'u
- long
- ve'e
- infinite
-
-
-
-
- VIhA
-
- spatial dimensionality
-
- vi'i
- line
- vi'a
- plane
- vi'u
- space
- vi'e
- space-time
-
-
-
-
- FEhE
-
- spatial interval modifier flag
-
- fe'enoroi
- nowhere
- fe'eroroi
- everywhere
- fe'eba'o
- beyond
- etc.
-
-
-
-
- MOhI
-
- spatial movement flag
-
- mo'i
- motion
-
- see
-
-
-
- KI
-
- set or reset sticky tense
-
- tense+ki
- set
- ki alone
- reset
-
-
-
-
- CUhE
-
- tense question, reference point
-
- cu'e
- asks for a tense or aspect
- nau
- use speaker's reference point
-
-
-
-
- JAI
-
- tense conversion
-
- jaica
- the time of
- jaivi
- the place of
- etc.
-
-
-
+
+
+ PU
+
+ temporal direction
+
+
+ pu
+ past
+
+
+ ca
+ present
+
+
+ ba
+ future
+
+
+
+
+
+ ZI
+
+ temporal distance
+
+
+ zi
+ short
+
+
+ za
+ medium
+
+
+ zu
+ long
+
+
+
+
+
+ ZEhA
+
+ temporal interval
+
+
+ ze'i
+ short
+
+
+ ze'a
+ medium
+
+
+ ze'u
+ long
+
+
+ ze'e
+ infinite
+
+
+
+
+
+ ROI
+
+ objective quantified tense flag
+
+
+ noroi
+ never
+
+
+ paroi
+ once
+
+ ...
+
+ roroi
+ always
+
+ etc.
+
+ pare'u
+ the first time
+
+
+ rere'u
+ the second time
+
+ etc.
+
+
+
+
+ TAhE
+
+ subjective quantified tense
+
+
+ di'i
+ regularly
+
+
+ na'o
+ typically
+
+
+ ru'i
+ continuously
+
+
+ ta'e
+ habitually
+
+
+
+
+
+ ZAhO
+
+ event contours
+ see
+
+
+
+ FAhA
+
+ spatial direction
+ see
+
+
+
+ VA
+
+ spatial distance
+
+
+ vi
+ short
+
+
+ va
+ medium
+
+
+ vu
+ long
+
+
+
+
+
+ VEhA
+
+ spatial interval
+
+
+ ve'i
+ short
+
+
+ ve'a
+ medium
+
+
+ ve'u
+ long
+
+
+ ve'e
+ infinite
+
+
+
+
+
+ VIhA
+
+ spatial dimensionality
+
+
+ vi'i
+ line
+
+
+ vi'a
+ plane
+
+
+ vi'u
+ space
+
+
+ vi'e
+ space-time
+
+
+
+
+
+ FEhE
+
+ spatial interval modifier flag
+
+
+ fe'enoroi
+ nowhere
+
+
+ fe'eroroi
+ everywhere
+
+
+ fe'eba'o
+ beyond
+
+ etc.
+
+
+
+
+ MOhI
+
+ spatial movement flag
+
+ mo'i
+ motion
+
+ see
+
+
+
+ KI
+
+ set or reset sticky tense
+
+ tense+ki
+ set
+ ki alone
+ reset
+
+
+
+
+ CUhE
+
+ tense question, reference point
+
+
+ cu'e
+ asks for a tense or aspect
+
+
+ nau
+ use speaker's reference point
+
+
+
+
+
+ JAI
+
+ tense conversion
+
+
+ jaica
+ the time of
+
+
+ jaivi
+ the place of
+
+ etc.
+
+
+
+
List of spatial directions and direction-like relations
=20
spatial direction=
slist of The following list of=
FAhA cmavo gives rough English glosses for the cmavo, first when used with=
out=20
mo'i to express a direction, and then when used=
with=20
mo'i to express movement in the direction. When=
possible, the gismu from which the cmavo is derived is also listed.
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
- cmavo
- gismu
- without mo'i
- with mo'i
-
-
-
-
- ca'u
- crane
- in front (of)
- forward
-
-
- ti'a
- trixe
- behind
- backward
-
-
- zu'a
- zunle
- on the left (of)
- leftward
-
-
- ga'u
- gapru
- above
- upward(ly)
-
-
- ni'a
- cnita
- below
- downward(ly)
-
-
- ne'i
- nenri
- within
- into
-
-
- ru'u
- sruri
- surrounding
- orbiting
-
-
- pa'o
- pagre
- transfixing
- passing through
-
-
- ne'a
-
- next to
- moving while next to
-
-
- te'e
-
- bordering
- moving along the border (of)
-
-
- re'o
-
- adjacent (to)
- along
-
-
- fa'a
- farna
- towards
- arriving at
-
-
- to'o
-
- away from
- departing from
-
-
- zo'i
-
- inward (from)
- approaching
-
-
- ze'o
-
- outward (from)
- receding from
-
-
- zo'a
-
- tangential (to)
- passing (by)
-
-
- be'a
- berti
- north (of)
- northward(ly)
-
-
- ne'u
- snanu
- south (of)
- southward(ly)
-
-
- du'a
- stuna
- east (of)
- eastward(ly)
-
-
- vu'a
-
- west (of)
- westward(ly)
-
-
-
- =20
+
+
+ ca'u
+ crane
+ in front (of)
+ forward
+
+
+ ti'a
+ trixe
+ behind
+ backward
+
+
+ zu'a
+ zunle
+ on the left (of)
+ leftward
+
+
+ ga'u
+ gapru
+ above
+ upward(ly)
+
+
+ ni'a
+ cnita
+ below
+ downward(ly)
+
+
+ ne'i
+ nenri
+ within
+ into
+
+
+ ru'u
+ sruri
+ surrounding
+ orbiting
+
+
+ pa'o
+ pagre
+ transfixing
+ passing through
+
+
+ ne'a
+
+ next to
+ moving while next to
+
+
+ te'e
+
+ bordering
+ moving along the border (of)
+
+
+ re'o
+
+ adjacent (to)
+ along
+
+
+ fa'a
+ farna
+ towards
+ arriving at
+
+
+ to'o
+
+ away from
+ departing from
+
+
+ zo'i
+
+ inward (from)
+ approaching
+
+
+ ze'o
+
+ outward (from)
+ receding from
+
+
+ zo'a
+
+ tangential (to)
+ passing (by)
+
+
+ be'a
+ berti
+ north (of)
+ northward(ly)
+
+
+ ne'u
+ snanu
+ south (of)
+ southward(ly)
+
+
+ du'a
+ stuna
+ east (of)
+ eastward(ly)
+
+
+ vu'a
+
+ west (of)
+ westward(ly)
+
+
ze'ospecial note on direction orientation zo'ispecial =
note on direction orientation to'ospecial note on directio=
n orientation fa'aspecial note on direction orientation Special note on=20
fa'a,=20
to'o,=20
zo'i, and=20
ze'o:
- zo'i and=20
+ zo'i and=20
ze'o refer to direction towards or away from th=
e speaker's location, or whatever the origin is.
- fa'a and=20
+ fa'a and=20
to'o refer to direction towards or away from so=
me other point.
commit 72049575be537ccaad711c13847c3a8d496976fd
Author: Eitan Postavsky
Date: Sat Jan 29 15:11:29 2011 -0500
Chapter 2: s. Invented several tags and attributes.
=20
, , , for the interlinear
glosses. can have elidable=3D"false", which means it's
wrapping an elidable terminator that cannot be elided, or
delineated=3D"false", which means it's wrapping an elidable terminator
that can be elided but for some reason wasn't surrounded with []
(there's only of these). is for UI and such.
=20
Also, now has to be wrapped in (i.e. it is no
longer a child of the same parents that can be a child of)
diff --git a/todocbook/2.xml b/todocbook/2.xml
index 6d0622c..c2e99df 100644
--- a/todocbook/2.xml
+++ b/todocbook/2.xml
@@ -46,20 +46,21 @@
[svg version]
+
John is the father of Sam| | |=20
sumti
selbri
sumti (argument)
giveexample In a relationship, there are a defi=
nite number of things being related. In English, for example,=20
give
has three places: the donor, the recipient and the=
gift. For example:
@@ -313,21 +314,21 @@
explains how to give them appropriat=
e meanings.
Some simple Lojban bridi
bridiquick-tour version Let's look at a simple =
Lojban bridi. The place structure of the gismu=20
tavla is
- x1 talks to x2 about x3 in language x4
+ x1 talks to x2 about x3 in language x4
where the=20
x
es with following numbers represent the various argum=
ents that could be inserted at the given positions in the English sentence.=
For example:
John talks to Sam about engineering in Lojban.
=20
@@ -343,192 +344,267 @@
Talking is going on, with speaker John and listener Sam and su=
bject matter engineering and language Lojban.
The Lojban bridi corresponding to=20
will have the form
- x1 [cu]=
=20
- tavla=20
- x2=20
- x3=20
- x4
+
+ x1
+ cu
+ tavla=20
+ x2=20
+ x3=20
+ x4
+
cu<=
secondary>quick-tour version tavla cuuse ofquick-tour version cuomission ofquick-tour version The word=20
cu serves as a separator between any preceding =
sumti and the selbri. It can often be omitted, as in the following examples=
.
- mi=20
- tavla=20
- do=20
- zo'e=20
- zo'e
+
+ mi=20
+ tavla=20
+ do=20
+ zo'e=20
+ zo'e
+
I talk to you about something in some language.
=20
=20
- do=20
- tavla=20
- mi=20
- ta=20
- zo'e
+
+ do=20
+ tavla=20
+ mi=20
+ ta=20
+ zo'e
+
You talk to me about that thing in a language.
=20
=20
- mi=20
- tavla=20
- zo'e=20
- tu=20
- ti
+
+ mi=20
+ tavla=20
+ zo'e=20
+ tu=20
+ ti
+
I talk to someone about that thing yonder in this language.
(=20
is a bit unusual, as there =
is no easy way to point to a language; one might point to a copy of this bo=
ok, and hope the meaning gets across!)
zo'equick-tour version ellipsisquick-tour version<=
/secondary> When there are one or more occurrences of the cmavo=
=20
zo'e at the end of a bridi, they may be omitted=
, a process called=20
ellipsis
.=20
- =20
+
and=20
may be expressed thus:
- mi=20
- tavla=20
- do
+
+ mi=20
+ tavla=20
+ do
+
I talk to you (about something in some language).
=20
=20
- do=20
- tavla=20
- mi=20
- ta
+
+ do=20
+ tavla=20
+ mi=20
+ ta
+
You talk to me about that thing (in some language).
Note that=20
is not subject to ellipsis =
by this direct method, as the=20
- =20
+
zo'e in it is not at the end of the bridi.
Variant bridi structure
sumti placement=
primary>variantquick-tour version Consider the sentence
- mi [cu]=20
- vecnu
- ti
- ta
- zo'e
- seller-x1 sells goods-sold-x2 buyer-x3 price-x4
- I sell this to that for some price.
- I sell this-thing/these-things to that-buyer/those-buyers.
- (The price is obvious or unimportant.)
+
+ mi
+ cu
+ vecnu
+ ti
+ ta
+ zo'e
+
+
+ seller-x1
+ sells
+ goods-sold-x2
+ buyer-x3
+ price-x4
+
+
+ I
+ sell
+ this
+ to that
+ for some price.
+
+
+ I
+ sell
+ this-thing/these-things
+ to that-buyer/those-buyers.
+ The price is obvious or unimportant.
+
has one sumti (the x1) befo=
re the selbri. It is also possible to put more than one sumti before the se=
lbri, without changing the order of sumti:
- mi
- ti [cu]=20
- vecnu
- ta
- seller-x1 goods-sold-x2 sells buyer-x3
- I this sell to that.
- (translates as stilted or poetic English)
- I this thing do sell to that buyer.
+
+ mi
+ ti =20
+ cu
+ vecnu
+ ta
+
+
+ seller-x1
+ goods-sold-x2
+ sells
+ buyer-x3
=20
- =20
+
+
+ I
+ this
+ sell
+ to that.
+ translates as stilted or poetic English
+
+ I this thing do sell to that buyer.
- mi
- ti
- ta [cu]=20
- vecnu
- seller-x1 goods-sold-x2 buyer-x3 sells
- I this to that sell.
- (translates as stilted or poetic English)
- I this thing to that buyer do sell.
+
+ mi
+ ti
+ ta =20
+ cu
+ vecnu
+
+
+ seller-x1
+ goods-sold-x2
+ buyer-x3
+ sells
+
+
+ I
+ this
+ to that
+ sell.
+ translates as stilted or poetic English
+
+ I this thing to that buyer do sell.
through=20
mean the same thing. Usuall=
y, placing more than one sumti before the selbri is done for style or for e=
mphasis on the sumti that are out-of-place from their normal position. (Nat=
ive speakers of languages other than English may prefer such orders.)
observativesquick-tour version If there are no =
sumti before the selbri, then it is understood that the x1 sumti value is e=
quivalent to=20
zo'e; i.e. unimportant or obvious, and therefor=
e not given. Any sumti after the selbri start counting from x2.
- ta [cu]=20
- melbi
- object/idea-x1 is-beautiful (to someone by some standard)
- That/Those is/are beautiful.
- That is beautiful.
- Those are beautiful.
+
+ ta =20
+ cu
+ melbi
+
+
+ object/idea-x1
+ is-beautiful=20
+ to someone by some standard
+
+
+ That/Those
+ is/are beautiful.
+
+ That is beautiful.
+ Those are beautiful.
when the x1 is omitted, becomes:
- ________ =
[cu]=20
- melbi
- unspecified-x1 is-beautiful (to someone by some standard)
- Beautiful!
- It's beautiful!
+
+ ________ =20
+ cu
+ melbi
+
+
+ unspecified-x1
+ is-beautiful=20
+ to someone by some standard
+
+ Beautiful!
+ It's beautiful!
Omitting the x1 adds emphasis to the selbri relation, which has =
become first in the sentence. This kind of sentence is termed an observativ=
e, because it is often used when someone first observes or takes note of th=
e relationship, and wishes to quickly communicate it to someone else. Commo=
nly understood English observatives include=20
=20
=20
Smoke!
upon seeing smoke or smelling the odor, or=20
Car!
to a person crossing the street who might be in da=
nger. Any Lojban selbri can be used as an observative if no sumti appear be=
fore the selbri.
=20
The word=20
cu does not occur in an observative;=20
@@ -541,64 +617,72 @@
Varying the order of sumti
SE selma'oquick-tour version sequick-tour vers=
ion =
sumti reorderingquick-tour version For one reason or another you may want to change the order, placing on=
e particular sumti at the front of the bridi. The cmavo=20
se, when placed before the last word of the sel=
bri, will switch the meanings of the first and second sumti places. So
- mi
- tavla
- do
- ti
+
+ mi
+ tavla
+ do
+ ti
+
I talk to you about this.
has the same meaning as
- do
- se tavla
- mi
- ti
+
+ do
+ se tavla
+ mi
+ ti
+
You are talked to by me about this.
te<=
secondary>quick-tour version The cmavo=20
te, when used in the same location, switches th=
e meanings of the first and the third sumti places.
- mi
- tavla
- do
- ti
+
+ mi
+ tavla
+ do
+ ti
+
I talk to you about this.
has the same meaning as
- ti
- te tavla
- do
- mi
+
+ ti
+ te tavla
+ do
+ mi
+
This is talked about to you by me.
Note that only the first and third sumti have switched places; t=
he second sumti has remained in the second place.
xe<=
secondary>quick-tour version vequick-tour version The cmavo=20
ve and=20
xe switch the first and fourth sumti places, an=
d the first and fifth sumti places, respectively. These changes in the orde=
r of places are known as=20
conversions
, and the=20
se,=20
te,=20
@@ -646,38 +730,38 @@
sutra tavla
has the place structure
- x1 is a fast type-of talker to x2 about x3 in language x4
- x1 talks fast to x2 about x3 in language x4
+ x1 is a fast type-of talker to x2 about x3 in=
language x4
+ x1 talks fast to x2 about x3 in language x4=
place-structure>
fast talkerexample tanru default groupingquick-tour ve=
rsion When three or more gismu are in a row, the fi=
rst modifies the second, and that combined meaning modifies the third, and =
that combined meaning modifies the fourth, and so on. For example
sutra tavla cutci
fast-talker shoe<=
/primary>example has the place structure=
- s1 is a fast-talker type of shoe worn by s2 of material s3
+ s1 is a fast-talker type of shoe worn by s2 o=
f material s3
That is, it is a shoe that is worn by a fast talker rather than =
a shoe that is fast and is also worn by a talker.
=20
Note especially the use of=20
type-of
as a mechanism for connecting the English trans=
lations of the two or more gismu; this convention helps the learner underst=
and each tanru in its context. Creative interpretations are also possible, =
however:
@@ -712,218 +796,293 @@
Lepidopteraexample butterflysocialexample social butterflyexample m=
ust always be an insect with large brightly-colored wings, of the family=20
Lepidoptera.
=20
tanruplace structure ofquick-tour version The place structure of a tanru is always that of the final =
component of the tanru. Thus, the following has the place structure of=20
klama:
- mi [cu]=20
- sutra klama
- la meris.
- I quickly-go to Mary.
+
+ mi
+ cu
+ sutra klama
+ la meris.
+
+
+ I
+ quickly-go
+ to Mary.
+
tanru conversion<=
/primary>effect on place structurequick-to=
ur version With the conversion=20
se klama as the final component of the tanru, t=
he place structure of the entire selbri is that of=20
se klama: the x1 place is the destination, and =
the x2 place is the one who goes:
=20
- mi [cu]=20
- sutra se klama
- la meris.
- I quickly am-gone-to by Mary.
+
+ mi
+ cu
+ sutra se klama
+ la meris.
+
+
+ I
+
+ quickly
+ am-gone-to
+ by Mary.
+
tanruand conversionquick-tour version<=
/indexterm> The following example shows that there is more to conversion th=
an merely switching places, though:
- la tam. [cu]=20
- melbi tavla
- la meris.
- Tom beautifully-talks to Mary.
- Tom is a beautiful-talker to Mary.
+
+ la tam.
+ cu
+ melbi tavla
+ la meris.
+
+
+ Tom
+ beautifully-talks
+ to Mary.
+
+
+ Tom
+ is a beautiful-talker
+ to Mary.
+
has the place structure of=20
tavla, but note the two distinct interpretation=
s.
Now, using conversion, we can modify the place structure order:<=
/para>
=20
- la meris. [cu]=20
- melbi se tavla
- la tam.
- Mary is beautifully-talked-to by Tom.
- Mary is a beautiful-audience for Tom.
+
+ la meris.
+ cu
+ melbi se tavla
+ la tam.
+
+
+ Mary
+ is beautifully-talked-to
+ by Tom.
+
+
+ Mary
+ is a beautiful-audience
+ for Tom.
+
and we see that the modification has been changed so as to focus=
on Mary's role in the bridi relationship, leading to a different set of po=
ssible interpretations.
Note that there is no place structure change if the modifying te=
rm is converted, and so less drastic variation in possible meanings:
- la tam. [cu]=20
- tavla melbi
- la meris.
- Tom is talkerly-beautiful to Mary.
+
+ la tam.
+ cu
+ tavla melbi
+ la meris.
+
+
+ Tom
+ is talkerly-beautiful
+ to Mary.
+
=20
- la tam. [cu]=20
- se tavla melbi
- la meris.
- Tom is audiencely-beautiful to Mary.
+
+ la tam.
+ cu
+ se tavla melbi
+ la meris.
+
+
+ Tom
+ is audiencely-beautiful
+ to Mary.
+
and we see that the manner in which Tom is seen as beautiful by =
Mary changes, but Tom is still the one perceived as beautiful, and Mary, th=
e observer of beauty.
Description sumti
talker<=
secondary>example descriptionsquick-tour version Often we wish to talk about things other than the speaker, t=
he listener and things we can point to. Let's say I want to talk about a ta=
lker other than=20
mi. What I want to talk about would naturally f=
it into the first place of=20
tavla. Lojban, it turns out, has an operator th=
at pulls this first place out of a selbri and converts it to a sumti called=
a=20
description sumti
. The description sumti=20
le tavla ku means=20
the talker
, and may be used wherever any sumti may be u=
sed.
For example,
- mi
- tavla
- do
- le tavla ku
+
+ mi
+ tavla
+ do
+ le tavla
+ ku
+
means the same as
-
+
-
- I talk to you about the talker
-
+ I talk to you about the talker
where=20
the talker
is presumably someone other than me, though =
not necessarily.
Similarly=20
le sutra tavla ku is=20
the fast talker
, and=20
=20
le sutra te tavla ku is=20
the fast subject of talk
or=20
the subject of fast talk
. Which of these related meanin=
gs is understood will depend on the context in which the expression is used=
. The most plausible interpretation within the context will generally be as=
sumed by a listener to be the intended one.
In many cases the word=20
ku may be omitted. In particular, it is never n=
ecessary in a description at the end of a sentence, so:
- mi
- tavla
- do
- le tavla
- I talk-to you about-the talker
+
+ mi
+ tavla
+ do
+ le tavla
+
+
+ I
+ talk-to
+ you
+ about-the talker
+
means exactly the same thing as=20
.
cuneed forquick-tour version There is a problem when we want to say=20
The fast one is talking.
The=20
obvious
translation=20
le sutra tavla turns out to mean=20
the fast talker
, and has no selbri at all. To solve thi=
s problem we can use the word=20
=20
cu, which so far has always been optional, in f=
ront of the selbri.
The word=20
cu has no meaning, and exists only to mark the =
beginning of the selbri within the bridi, separating it from a previous sum=
ti. It comes before any other part of the selbri, including other cmavo lik=
e=20
se or=20
te. Thus:
- le sutra tavla
- The fast talker
-
-
- =20
+ le sutra tavla
+ The fast talker
- le sutra cu=20
- tavla
- The fast one is talking.
-
- =20
+
+ le sutra
+ cu
+ tavla
+
+
+ The fast one
+ is talking.
+
- le sutra se tavla
- The fast talked-to one
-
- =20
+ le sutra se tavla
+ The fast talked-to one
- le sutra cu=20
- se tavla
- The fast one is talked to.
+
+ le sutra
+ cu
+ se tavla
+
+
+ The fast one
+ is talked to.
+
KU selma'oquick-tour version kuquick-tour version Consider the following more complex example, with two=
description sumti.
- mi [cu]=20
- tavla
- le vecnu [ku]
- le blari'o [ku]
- I talk-to the seller about the blue-green-thing.
+
+ mi
+ cu
+ tavla
+ le vecnu
+ ku
+ le blari'o
+ ku
+
+
+ I
+ talk-to
+ the seller
+ about the blue-green-thing.
+
The sumti=20
le vecnu contains the selbri=20
vecnu, which has the=20
seller
in the x1 place, and uses it in this sentence to=
describe a particular=20
seller
that the speaker has in mind (one that he or she=
probably expects the listener will also know about). Similarly, the speake=
r has a particular blue-green thing in mind, which is described using=20
le to mark=20
blari'o, a selbri whose first sumti is somethin=
g blue-green.
It is safe to omit both occurrences of=20
@@ -935,123 +1094,172 @@
Examples of brivla
brivla<=
secondary>types ofquick-tour version The simplest form of selbri is an individual word. A word which may =
by itself express a selbri relation is called a=20
brivla. The three types of brivla are gismu (ro=
ot words), lujvo (compounds), and fu'ivla (borrowings from other languages)=
. All have identical grammatical uses. So far, most of our selbri have been=
gismu or tanru built from gismu.
=20
gismuquick-tour version gismu:
- mi [cu]=20
- klama
- ti
- zo'e
- zo'e
- ta
- Go-er goes destination origin route means.
- I go here (to this) using that means (from somewhere via some rout=
e).
+
+ mi =20
+ cu
+ klama
+ ti
+ zo'e
+ zo'e
+ ta
+
+
+ Go-er
+ goes
+ destination
+ origin
+ route
+ means.
+
+
+ I
+ go
+ here
+ (to this)
+ using that means
+ (from somewhere
+ via some route).
+
lujvoquick-tour version lujvo:
- ta [cu]=20
- blari'o
- That is-blue-green.
+
+ ta=20
+ cu
+ blari'o
+
+
+ That
+ is-blue-green.
+
fu'ivla=
quick-tour version fu'ivla:
- ti [cu]=20
- djarspageti
- This is-spaghetti.
+
+ ti=20
+ cu
+ djarspageti
+
+
+ This
+ is-spaghetti.
+
=20
cmavo as selbri=
primary>quick-tour version Some cmavo ma=
y also serve as selbri, acting as variables that stand for another selbri. =
The most commonly used of these is=20
go'i, which represents the main bridi of the pr=
evious Lojban sentence, with any new sumti or other sentence features being=
expressed replacing the previously expressed ones. Thus, in this context:<=
/para>
- ta [cu]=20
- go'i
- That too/same-as-last selbri.
- That (is spaghetti), too.
+
+ ta=20
+ cu
+ go'i
+
+
+ That
+ too/same-as-last selbri.
+
+ That (is spaghetti), too.
=20
The sumti=20
di'u and=20
la'e di'u
referencequick-tour version In English, I might=
say=20
The dog is beautiful
, and you might reply=20
This pleases me.
How do you know what=20
=20
this
refers to? Lojban uses different expressions to co=
nvey the possible meanings of the English:
beautiful dogexample FIXME: TAG SPOT
- le gerku [ku] cu=20
- melbi
+
+ le gerku
+ ku
+ cu=20
+ melbi
+
The dog is beautiful.
The following three sentences all might translate as=20
This pleases me.
=20
- ti [cu]=20
- pluka
- mi
+
+ ti
+ cu
+ pluka
+ mi
+
This (the dog) pleases me.
=20
- di'u [cu]=20
- pluka
- mi
+
+ di'u
+ cu
+ pluka
+ mi
+
This (the last sentence) pleases me (perhaps because it is gra=
mmatical or sounds nice).
=20
- la'e di'u [cu]=20
- pluka
- mi
+
+ la'e di'u
+ cu
+ pluka
+ mi
+
This (the meaning of the last sentence; i.e. that the dog is b=
eautiful) pleases me.
=20
la'edi'uquick-tour version di'uquick-tour vers=
ion =
pleases=20
uses one sumti to point to =
or refer to another by inference. It is common to write=20
la'edi'u as a single word; it is used more ofte=
n than=20
=20
di'u by itself.
@@ -1059,24 +1267,30 @@
Possession
possessionquick-tour version=20
Possession
refers to the concept of specifying an objec=
t by saying who it belongs to (or with). A full explanation of Lojban posse=
ssion is given in=20
. A simple means of expres=
sing possession, however, is to place a sumti representing the possessor of=
an object within the description sumti that refers to the object: specific=
ally, between the=20
le and the selbri of the description:
- le mi gerku cu=20
- sutra
- The of-me dog is fast.
- My dog is fast.
+
+ le mi gerku
+ cu=20
+ sutra
+
+
+ The of-me dog
+ is fast.
+
+ My dog is fast.
possession not ow=
nershipquick-tour version In L=
ojban, possession doesn't necessarily mean ownership: one may=20
possess
a chair simply by sitting on it, even though it=
actually belongs to someone else. English uses possession casually in the =
same way, but also uses it to refer to actual ownership or even more intima=
te relationships:=20
my arm
doesn't mean=20
some arm I own
but rather=20
the arm that is part of my body
. Lojban has methods of =
specifying all these different kinds of possession precisely and easily.
Vocatives and commands
@@ -1124,86 +1338,101 @@
co'o. djan.
Good-bye, John.
imperativesquick-tour version commandsquick-tour vers=
ion Commands are expressed in Lojban by a simple va=
riation of the main bridi structure. If you say
- do
- tavla
- You are-talking.
+
+ do
+ tavla
+
+
+ You
+ are-talking.
+
you are simply making a statement of fact. In order to issue a c=
ommand in Lojban, substitute the word=20
ko for=20
do. The bridi
- ko
- tavla
+
+ ko
+ tavla
+
ko<=
secondary>quick-tour version Talk!example instructs the listener to do whatever is necessary to make=20
true; it means=20
Talk!
Other examples:
- ko
- sutra
+
+ ko
+ sutra
+
Be fast!
The=20
ko need not be in the x1 place, but rather can =
occur anywhere a sumti is allowed, leading to possible Lojban commands that=
are very unlike English commands:
=20
- mi
- tavla
- ko
- Be talked to by me
- Let me talk to you.
+
+ mi
+ tavla
+ ko
+
+ Be talked to by me.
+ Let me talk to you.
The cmavo=20
ko can fill any appropriate sumti place, and ca=
n be used as often as is appropriate for the selbri:
- ko
- kurji
- ko
+
+ ko
+ kurji
+ ko
+
and
- ko
- ko
- kurji
+
+ ko
+ ko
+ kurji
+
Take care!example both mean=20
You take care of you
and=20
Be taken care of by you
, or to put it colloquially,=20
Take care of yourself
.
Questions
questionsquick-tour version There are many kind=
s of questions in Lojban: full explanations appear in=20
@@ -1216,104 +1445,137 @@
Who?
or=20
What?
in most cases, but also serves for=20
When?
,=20
Where?
, and=20
Why?
when used in sumti places that express time, locat=
ion, or cause. For example:
- ma
- tavla
- do
- mi
- Who? talks to-you about-me.
- Who is talking to you about me?
+
+ ma
+ tavla
+ do
+ mi
+
+
+ Who?
+ talks
+ to-you
+ about-me.
+
+ Who is talking to you about me?
The listener can reply by simply stating a sumti:
- la djan.
- John (is talking to you about me).
+ la djan.
+ John (is talking to you about me).
Like=20
ko,=20
ma can occur in any position where a sumti is a=
llowed, not just in the first position:
- do [cu]=20
- tavla
- ma
- You talk to what/whom?
+
+ do
+ cu
+ tavla
+ ma
+
+
+ You
+ talk
+ to what/whom?
+
A=20
ma can also appear in multiple sumti positions =
in one sentence, in effect asking several questions at once.
- ma [cu] =20
- tavla
- ma
- What/Who talks to what/whom?
+
+ ma
+ cu =20
+ tavla
+ ma
+
+
+ What/Who
+ talks
+ to what/whom?
+
separate question=
squick-tour version The two se=
parate=20
ma positions ask two separate questions, and ca=
n therefore be answered with different values in each sumti place.
=20
mo<=
secondary>quick-tour version bridi questionsquick-tour ver=
sion selbri questionsquick-tour version The cmavo=20
mo is the selbri analogue of=20
ma. It asks the respondent to provide a selbri =
that would be a true relation if inserted in place of the=20
mo:
- do [cu]=20
- mo
- You are-what/do-what?
+
+ do
+ cu
+ mo
+
+
+ You
+ are-what/do-what?
+
A=20
mo may be used anywhere a brivla or other selbr=
i might. Keep this in mind for later examples. Unfortunately, by itself,=20
mo is a very non-specific question. The respons=
e to the question in=20
could be:
- mi [cu]=20
- melbi
+
+ mi
+ cu
+ melbi
+
I am beautiful.
or:
- mi [cu]=20
- tavla
+
+ mi
+ cu
+ tavla
+
I talk.
speaker-listener =
cooperation Clearly,=20
mo requires some cooperation between the speake=
r and the respondent to ensure that the right question is being answered. I=
f context doesn't make the question specific enough, the speaker must ask t=
he question more specifically using a more complex construction such as a t=
anru (see=20
).
It is perfectly permissible for the respondent to fill in other =
unspecified places in responding to a=20
mo question. Thus, the respondent in=20
could have also specified a=
n audience, a topic, and/or a language in the response.
yes/no questions<=
/primary>quick-tour version Finally, we =
must consider questions that can be answered=20
@@ -1333,241 +1595,330 @@
Is it true that you are talking to me?
xu<=
secondary>quick-tour version In Lojban we have a wo=
rd that asks precisely that question in precisely the same way. The cmavo=
=20
xu, when placed in front of a bridi, asks wheth=
er that bridi is true as stated. So
- xu =20
- do
- tavla
- mi
- Is-it-true-that you are-talking to-me?
+
+ xu =20
+ do
+ tavla
+ mi
+
+
+ Is-it-true-that
+ you
+ are-talking
+ to-me?
+
is the Lojban translation of=20
.
affirmative answe=
rquick-tour version go'i with xuquick=
-tour version The answer=20
Yes
may be given by simply restating the bridi without =
the=20
xu question word. Lojban has a shorthand for do=
ing this with the word=20
go'i, mentioned in=20
. Instead of a negative answer,=
the bridi may be restated in such a way as to make it true. If this can be=
done by substituting sumti, it may be done with=20
=20
go'i as well. For example:
- xu=20
- do
- kanro
- Are you healthy?
-
+
+ xu
+ do
+ kanro
+
+ Are you healthy?
healthy=
example can be answered with
- mi
- kanro
- I am healthy.
+
+ mi
+ kanro
+
+ I am healthy.
=20
or
- go'i
- I am healthy.
+
+ go'i
+
+ I am healthy.
=20
=20
(Note that=20
do to the questioner is=20
mi to the respondent.)
or
- le tavla cu=20
- kanro
- The talker is healthy.
+
+ le tavla
+ cu
+ kanro
+
+ The talker is healthy.
=20
or
- le tavla cu=20
- go'i
- The talker is healthy.
+
+ le tavla
+ cu
+ go'i
+
+ The talker is healthy.
=20
nago'iquick-tour version negative answerquick-to=
ur version A general negative answer may be given b=
y=20
=20
na go'i.=20
na may be placed before any selbri (but after t=
he=20
cu). It is equivalent to stating=20
It is not true that ...
before the bridi. It does not i=
mply that anything else is true or untrue, only that that specific bridi is=
not true. More details on negative statements are available in=20
.
Indicators
- interjectionsquick-tour version attitudinal indicators=
quick-tour version indicatorsquick-tour version Different cultures express emotions and attitudes with a vari=
ety of intonations and gestures that are not usually included in written la=
nguage. Some of these are available in some languages as interjections (i.e=
. Aha!, Oh no!, Ouch!, Aahh!, etc.), but they vary greatly from culture to =
culture.
+ interjectionsquick-tour version attitudinal indicators=
quick-tour version indicatorsquick-tour version Different cultures express emotions and attitudes with a vari=
ety of intonations and gestures that are not usually included in written la=
nguage. Some of these are available in some languages as interjections (i.e=
. Aha!, Oh no!, Ouch!, Aahh!, etc.), but they vary greatly from culture to =
culture.
=20
Lojban has a group of cmavo known as=20
attitudinal indicators
which specifically covers this t=
ype of commentary on spoken statements. They are both written and spoken, b=
ut require no specific intonation or gestures. Grammatically they are very =
simple: one or more attitudinals at the beginning of a bridi apply to the e=
ntire bridi; anywhere else in the bridi they apply to the word immediately =
to the left. For example:
=20
- .ie=20
- mi [cu]=20
- klama
- Agreement! I go.
- Yep! I'll go.
+
+ .ie=20
+ mi
+ cu
+ klama
+
+
+ Agreement!
+ I
+ go.
+
+ Yep! I'll go.
=20
=20
- .ei=20
- mi [cu]=20
- klama
- Obligation! I go.
- I should go.
+
+ .ei=20
+ mi
+ cu
+ klama
+
+
+ Obligation!
+ I
+ go.
+
+ I should go.
=20
=20
- mi [cu]=20
- klama
- le melbi .ui [ku]
- I go to the beautiful-thing (and I am happy because it is the beau=
tiful
- thing I'm going to).
+
+ mi
+ cu
+ klama
+ le melbi
+ .ui
+ ku
+
+
+ I
+ go
+ to the beautiful-thing
+ and I am happy because it is the beautiful thing I'm go=
ing to).
+
UI selma'oquick-tour version but/and equivalence =
metalinguistic wordsquick-tour version discursivesquick-tour vers=
ion Not all indicators indicate attitudes. Discursi=
ves, another group of cmavo with the same grammatical rules as attitudinal =
indicators, allow free expression of certain kinds of commentary about the =
main utterances. Using discursives allows a clear separation of these so-ca=
lled=20
=20
metalinguistic
features from the underlying statements =
and logical structure. By comparison, the English words=20
=20
but
and=20
also
, which discursively indicate contrast or an added =
weight of example, are logically equivalent to=20
and
, which does not have a discursive content. The aver=
age English-speaker does not think about, and may not even realize, the par=
adoxical idea that=20
but
basically means=20
and
.
- mi [cu]=20
- klama .i=20
- do [cu]=20
- stali
- I go. You stay.
+
+ mi
+ cu
+ klama
+ .i=20
+ do
+ cu
+ stali
+
+
+ I
+ go.
+ You
+ stay.
+
=20
=20
- mi [cu]=20
- klama .i ji'a=20
-
- do [cu]=20
- stali
- I go. In addition, you stay. (added weight)
+
+ mi
+ cu
+ klama
+ .i
+ ji'a
+ do
+ cu
+ stali
+
+
+ I
+ go.
+ In addition,
+ you
+ stay.
+ added weight
+
=20
=20
- mi [cu]=20
- klama .i ku'i=20
-
- do [cu]=20
- stali
- I go. However, you stay. (contrast)
+
+ mi
+ cu
+ klama
+ .i
+ ku'i
+ do
+ cu
+ stali
+
+
+ I
+ go.
+ However,
+ you
+ stay.
+ contrast
+
evidentialsquick-tour version Another group of =
indicators are called=20
evidentials
. Evidentials show the speaker's relationshi=
p to the statement, specifically how the speaker came to make the statement=
. These include=20
=20
=20
za'a (I directly observe the relationship),=20
=20
pe'i (I believe that the relationship holds),=
=20
=20
ru'a (I postulate the relationship), and others=
. Many American Indian languages use this kind of words.
=20
- pe'i=20
=20
- do [cu]=20
- melbi
- I opine! You are beautiful.
+
+ pe'i
+ do
+ cu
+ melbi
+
+
+ I opine!
+ You
+ are beautiful.
+
=20
=20
- za'a=20
=20
- do [cu]=20
- melbi
- I directly observe! You are beautiful.
+
+ za'a
+ do
+ cu
+ melbi
+
+
+ I directly observe!
+ You
+ are beautiful.
+
Tenses
time tensesquick-tour version tensesquick-tour versio=
n In English, every verb is tagged for the grammati=
cal category called tense: past, present, or future. The sentence
@@ -1580,119 +1931,161 @@
John is going to the store
is necessarily happening right now.
sentencestenselessquick-tour version=
indexterm> The Lojban sentence
- la djan. [cu]=20
- klama
- le zarci
- John goes/went/will-go to-the store
+
+ la djan.=20
+ cu
+ klama
+ le zarci
+
+
+ John
+ goes/went/will-go
+ to-the store
+
serves as a translation of either=20
or=20
, and of many other possible=
English sentences as well. It is not marked for tense, and can refer to an=
event in the past, the present or the future. This rule does not mean that=
Lojban has no way of representing the time of an event. A close translatio=
n of=20
would be:
- la djan.
- pu klama
- le zarci
- John [past] goes to-the store
+
+ la djan.
+ pu klama
+ le zarci
+
+ John
+ [past] goes to-the store
where the tag=20
pu forces the sentence to refer to a time in th=
e past. Similarly,
- la djan.
- ca klama
- le zarci
- John [present] goes to-the store
+
+ la djan.
+ ca klama
+ le zarci
+
+
+ John
+ [present] goes to-the store
+
necessarily refers to the present, because of the tag=20
ca. Tags used in this way always appear at the =
very beginning of the selbri, just after the=20
cu, and they may make a=20
cu unnecessary, since tags cannot be absorbed i=
nto tanru. Such tags serve as an equivalent to English tenses and adverbs. =
In Lojban, tense information is completely optional. If unspecified, the ap=
propriate tense is picked up from context.
=20
space tensesquick-tour version Lojban also exte=
nds the notion of=20
tense
to refer not only to time but to space. The follo=
wing example uses the tag=20
vu to specify that the event it describes happe=
ns far away from the speaker:
- do
- vu vecnu
- zo'e
- You yonder sell something-unspecified.
+
+ do
+ vu vecnu
+ zo'e
+
+
+ You
+ yonder sell
+ something-unspecified.
+
In addition, tense tags (either for time or space) can be prefix=
ed to the selbri of a description, producing a tensed sumti:
- le pu bajra [ku] cu =
=20
- tavla
- The earlier/former/past runner talked/talks.
+
+ le pu bajra
+ ku
+ cu
+ tavla
+
+
+ The earlier/former/past runner
+ talked/talks.
+
(Since Lojban tense is optional, we don't know when he or she ta=
lks.)
Tensed sumti with space tags correspond roughly to the English u=
se of=20
this
or=20
that
as adjectives, as in the following example, which =
uses the tag=20
=20
vi meaning=20
nearby
:
- le vi bajra [ku] cu=20
- tavla
- The nearby runner talks.
+
+ le vi bajra
+ ku
+ cu
+ tavla
+
+
+ The nearby runner
+ talks.
+
This runner talks.
Do not confuse the use of=20
vi in=20
with the cmavo=20
ti, which also means=20
this
, but in the sense of=20
this thing
.
sumti with tenses=
quick-tour version Furthermore=
, a tense tag can appear both on the selbri and within a description, as in=
the following example (where=20
ba is the tag for future time):
- le vi tavla [ku] cu=20
- ba klama
- The here talker [future] goes.
- The talker who is here will go.
+
+ le vi tavla
+ ku
+ cu
+ ba klama
+
+
+ The here talker
+ [future] goes.
+
+ The talker who is here will go.
This talker will go.
Lojban grammatical terms
=20
grammatical terms=
quick-tour version Here is a r=
eview of the Lojban grammatical terms used in this chapter, plus some other=
s used throughout this book. Only terms that are themselves Lojban words ar=
e included: there are of course many expressions like=20
=20
indicator
in=20
commit a295b27569e8fb02a9f76e34b7b8d579049b0385
Merge: 3943d8f d3fdace
Author: Eitan Postavsky
Date: Sat Jan 29 12:10:37 2011 -0500
Merge remote branch 'upstream/gh-pages' into gh-pages
commit 3943d8f859588dbc75bf01e11c21c523470b6aef
Author: Eitan Postavsky
Date: Sat Jan 29 12:09:23 2011 -0500
Chapter 2: cmavo-list, table, jbophrases, some example tags.
diff --git a/todocbook/2.xml b/todocbook/2.xml
index 5a8fd73..6d0622c 100644
--- a/todocbook/2.xml
+++ b/todocbook/2.xml
@@ -92,150 +92,226 @@
bridi,=20
sumti, and=20
selbri, because it is best to come to understan=
d them independently of the English associations of the corresponding words=
, which are only roughly similar in meaning anyhow.
underlinesexample double underscore notation convention for Quick Tour chap=
ter un=
derscore notation for Quick Tour chapter notation conventionsfor Quick Tour chapter The Lojban examples in this=
chapter (but not in the rest of the book) use a single underline (---) und=
er each sumti, and a double underline (=3D=3D=3D) under each selbri, to hel=
p you to tell them apart.
Pronunciation
pronunciationquick-tour version Detailed pronun=
ciation and spelling rules are given in=20
, but what follows will keep the =
reader from going too far astray while digesting this chapter.
vowels<=
secondary>pronunciation ofquick-tour version Lojban has six recognized vowels:=20
- a,=20
- e,=20
- i,=20
- o,=20
- u and=20
- y. The first five are roughly pronounced as=20
+ a,=20
+ e,=20
+ i,=20
+ o,=20
+ u and=20
+ y. The first five are roughly=
pronounced as=20
a
as in=20
father
,=20
- e as in=20
+ e as in=20
let
,=20
- i as in=20
+ i as in=20
machine
,=20
- o as in=20
+ o as in=20
dome
and=20
- u as in=20
+ u as in=20
flute
.=20
- y is pronounced as the sound called=20
+ y is pronounced as the sound =
called=20
schwa
, that is, as the unstressed=20
a
as in=20
about
or=20
around
.
consonantspronunciation ofquick-tour version Twelve consonants in Lojban are pronounced more or less =
as their counterparts are in English:=20
- b,=20
- d,=20
- f,=20
- k,=20
- l,=20
- m,=20
- n,=20
- p,=20
- r,=20
- t,=20
- v and=20
- z. The letter=20
- c, on the other hand is pronounced as the=20
+ b,=20
+ d,=20
+ f,=20
+ k,=20
+ l,=20
+ m,=20
+ n,=20
+ p,=20
+ r,=20
+ t,=20
+ v and=20
+ z. The letter=20
+ c, on the other hand is prono=
unced as the=20
sh
in=20
hush
, while=20
- j is its voiced counterpart, the sound of the=
=20
+ j is its voiced counterpart, =
the sound of the=20
s
in=20
pleasure
.=20
- g is always pronounced as it is in=20
+ g is always pronounced as it =
is in=20
gift
, never as in=20
giant.=20
- s is as in=20
+ s is as in=20
sell
, never as in=20
rose
. The sound of=20
- x is not found in English in normal words. It i=
s found as=20
- ch
in Scottish=20
- loch
, as=20
+ x is not found in English in =
normal words. It is found as=20
+ ch
in Scottish=20
+ loch
, as=20
j
in Spanish=20
- junta, and as=20
- ch
in German=20
- Bach
; it also appears in the English interjection=20
+ junta
, and as=20
+ ch
in German=20
+ Bach
; it also appears in the English in=
terjection=20
yecchh!
. It gets easier to say as you practice it. The =
letter=20
r can be trilled, but doesn't=
have to be.
diphthongspronunciation ofquick-tour version The Lojban diphthongs=20
- ai,=20
- ei,=20
- oi, and=20
- au are pronounced much as in the English words=
=20
+ ai,=20
+ ei,=20
+ oi, and=20
+ au are pronounced much as in=
the English words=20
sigh
,=20
say
,=20
boy
, and=20
how
. Other Lojban diphthongs begin with an=20
i pronounced like English=20
- y (for example,=20
- io is pronounced=20
+ y
(for example,=20
+ io is pronounced=20
yo
) or else with a=20
u pronounced like English=20
w
(for example,=20
- ua is pronounced=20
+ ua is pronounced=20
wa
).
period<=
secondary>quick-tour version commaquick-tour version apostroph=
equick-tour version Lojban als=
o has three=20
semi-letters
: the period, the comma and the apostrophe.=
The period represents a glottal stop or a pause; it is a required stoppage=
of the flow of air in the speech stream. The apostrophe sounds just like t=
he English letter=20
=20
h
. Unlike a regular consonant, it is not found at the b=
eginning or end of a word, nor is it found adjacent to a consonant; it is o=
nly found between two vowels. The comma has no sound associated with it, an=
d is used to separate syllables that might ordinarily run together. It is n=
ot used in this chapter.
stress<=
secondary>quick-tour version Stress falls on the ne=
xt to the last syllable of all words, unless that vowel is=20
y, which is never stressed; i=
n such words the third-to-last syllable is stressed. If a word only has one=
syllable, then that syllable is not stressed.
All Lojban words are pronounced as they are spelled: there are n=
o silent letters.
Words that can act as sumti
pro-sumtiquick-tour version Here is a short tab=
le of single words used as sumti. This table provides examples only, not th=
e entire set of such words, which may be found in=20
.
-
- mi I/me, we/us
- do you
- ti this, these
- ta that, those
- tu that far away, those far away
- zo'e unspecified value (used when a sumti is
- unimportant or obvious)
-
+
+
+ mi
+ I/me, we/us
+
+
+ do
+ you
+
+
+ ti
+ this, these
+
+
+ ta
+ that, those
+
+
+ tu
+ that far away, those far away
+
+
+ zo'e
+ unspecified value (used when a sumti is unimportant o=
r obvious)
+
+
Lojban sumti are not specific as to number (singular or plural),=
nor gender (masculine/feminine/neutral). Such distinctions can be optional=
ly added by methods that are beyond the scope of this chapter.
=20
pointing cmavoquick-tour version The cmavo=20
ti,=20
ta, and=20
tu refer to whatever the speaker is pointing at=
, and should not be used to refer to things that cannot in principle be poi=
nted at.
namesquick-tour version Names may also be used =
as sumti, provided they are preceded with the word=20
la:
-
- la meris. the one/ones named Mary
- la djan. the one/ones named John
-
+
+
+
+
+
+
+ la meris.
+ the one/ones named Mary
+
+
+ la djan.
+ the one/ones named John
+
+
+
+
Other Lojban spelling versions are possible for names from other=
languages, and there are restrictions on which letters may appear in Lojba=
n names: see=20
for more information.<=
/para>
Some words used to indicate selbri relations
selbri list for q=
uick tour Here is a short table of some words used as=
Lojban selbri in this chapter:
-
- vecnu x1 (seller) sells x2 (goods) to x3 (buyer) for x4 (price)
- tavla x1 (talker) talks to x2 (audience) about x3 (topic) in langu=
age x4
- sutra x1 (agent) is fast at doing x2 (action)
- blari'o x1 (object/light source) is blue-green
- melbi x1 (object/idea) is beautiful to x2 (observer) by standard x=
3
- cutci x1 is a shoe/boot for x2 (foot) made of x3 (material)
- bajra x1 runs on x2 (surface) using x3 (limbs) in manner x4 (gait)
- klama x1 goes/comes to x2 (destination) from x3 (origin point) via=
x4 (route) using
- x5 (means of transportation)
- pluka x1 pleases/is pleasing to x2 (experiencer) under conditions =
x3
+
+
+
+
+
+
+ vecnu
+ x1 (seller) sells x2 (goods) to x3 (bu=
yer) for x4 (price)
+
+
+ tavla
+ x1 (talker) talks to x2 (audience) abo=
ut x3 (topic) in language x4
+
+
+ sutra
+ x1 (agent) is fast at doing x2 (action=
)
+
+
+ blari'o
+ x1 (object/light source) is blue-green=
+
+
+ melbi
+ x1 (object/idea) is beautiful to x2 (o=
bserver) by standard x3
+
+
+ cutci
+ x1 is a shoe/boot for x2 (foot) made o=
f x3 (material)
+
+
+ bajra
+ x1 runs on x2 (surface) using x3 (limb=
s) in manner x4 (gait)
+
+
+ klama
+ x1 goes/comes to x2 (destination) from=
x3 (origin point) via x4 (route) using x5 (means of transportation)
+
+
+ pluka
+ x1 pleases/is pleasing to x2 (experien=
cer) under conditions x3
+
=20
- gerku x1 is a dog of breed x2
- kurji x1 takes care of x2
- kanro x1 is healthy by standard x2
+
+ gerku
+ x1 is a dog of breed x2
+
+
+ kurji
+ x1 takes care of x2<=
/entry>
+
+
+ kanro
+ x1 is healthy by standard x2
+
=20
- stali x1 stays/remains with x2
- zarci x1 is a market/store/shop selling x2 (products) operated by =
x3 (storekeeper)
-
+
+ stali
+ x1 stays/remains with x2
+
+
+ zarci
+ x1 is a market/store/shop selling x2 (=
products) operated by x3 (storekeeper)
+
+
+
+
x1notation conventionquick-tour version Each selbri (relation) has a specific rule that defines the r=
ole of each sumti in the bridi, based on its position. In the table above, =
that order was expressed by labeling the sumti positions as x1, x2, x3, x4,=
and x5.
words not in the =
dictionary Like the table in=20
, this table is far from comple=
te: in fact, no complete table can exist, because Lojban allows new words t=
o be created (in specified ways) whenever a speaker or writer finds the exi=
sting supply of words inadequate. This notion is a basic difference between=
Lojban (and some other languages such as German and Chinese) and English; =
in English, most people are very leery of using words that=20
aren't in the dictionary
. Lojbanists are encouraged to =
invent new words; doing so is a major way of participating in the developme=
nt of the language.=20
explains how to make new words,=
and=20
explains how to give them appropriat=
e meanings.
Some simple Lojban bridi
bridiquick-tour version Let's look at a simple =
Lojban bridi. The place structure of the gismu=20
@@ -286,84 +362,84 @@
mi=20
tavla=20
do=20
zo'e=20
zo'e
- I talk to you about something in some language.
+ I talk to you about something in some language.
=20
=20
do=20
tavla=20
mi=20
ta=20
zo'e
- You talk to me about that thing in a language.
+ You talk to me about that thing in a language.
=20
=20
mi=20
tavla=20
zo'e=20
tu=20
ti
- I talk to someone about that thing yonder in this language.
+ I talk to someone about that thing yonder in this language.
(=20
is a bit unusual, as there =
is no easy way to point to a language; one might point to a copy of this bo=
ok, and hope the meaning gets across!)
zo'equick-tour version ellipsisquick-tour version<=
/secondary> When there are one or more occurrences of the cmavo=
=20
zo'e at the end of a bridi, they may be omitted=
, a process called=20
ellipsis
.=20
=20
and=20
may be expressed thus:
mi=20
tavla=20
do
- I talk to you (about something in some language).
+ I talk to you (about something in some language).
=20
=20
do=20
tavla=20
mi=20
ta
- You talk to me about that thing (in some language).
+ You talk to me about that thing (in some language).
Note that=20
is not subject to ellipsis =
by this direct method, as the=20
=20
zo'e in it is not at the end of the bridi.
Variant bridi structure
sumti placement=
primary>variantquick-tour version Consider the sentence
@@ -469,61 +545,61 @@
se, when placed before the last word of the sel=
bri, will switch the meanings of the first and second sumti places. So
mi
tavla
do
ti
- I talk to you about this.
+ I talk to you about this.
has the same meaning as
do
se tavla
mi
ti
- You are talked to by me about this.
+ You are talked to by me about this.
te<=
secondary>quick-tour version The cmavo=20
te, when used in the same location, switches th=
e meanings of the first and the third sumti places.
mi
tavla
do
ti
- I talk to you about this.
+ I talk to you about this.
has the same meaning as
ti
te tavla
do
mi
- This is talked about to you by me.
+ This is talked about to you by me.
Note that only the first and third sumti have switched places; t=
he second sumti has remained in the second place.
xe<=
secondary>quick-tour version vequick-tour version The cmavo=20
ve and=20
xe switch the first and fourth sumti places, an=
d the first and fifth sumti places, respectively. These changes in the orde=
r of places are known as=20
conversions
, and the=20
se,=20
te,=20
ve, and=20
@@ -639,90 +715,90 @@
tanruplace structure ofquick-tour version The place structure of a tanru is always that of the final =
component of the tanru. Thus, the following has the place structure of=20
klama:
mi [cu]=20
sutra klama
la meris.
- I quickly-go to Mary.
+ I quickly-go to Mary.
tanru conversion<=
/primary>effect on place structurequick-to=
ur version With the conversion=20
se klama as the final component of the tanru, t=
he place structure of the entire selbri is that of=20
se klama: the x1 place is the destination, and =
the x2 place is the one who goes:
=20
mi [cu]=20
sutra se klama
la meris.
- I quickly am-gone-to by Mary.
+ I quickly am-gone-to by Mary.
tanruand conversionquick-tour version<=
/indexterm> The following example shows that there is more to conversion th=
an merely switching places, though:
la tam. [cu]=20
melbi tavla
la meris.
- Tom beautifully-talks to Mary.
+ Tom beautifully-talks to Mary.
Tom is a beautiful-talker to Mary.
has the place structure of=20
tavla, but note the two distinct interpretation=
s.
Now, using conversion, we can modify the place structure order:<=
/para>
=20
la meris. [cu]=20
melbi se tavla
la tam.
- Mary is beautifully-talked-to by Tom.
+ Mary is beautifully-talked-to by Tom.
Mary is a beautiful-audience for Tom.
and we see that the modification has been changed so as to focus=
on Mary's role in the bridi relationship, leading to a different set of po=
ssible interpretations.
Note that there is no place structure change if the modifying te=
rm is converted, and so less drastic variation in possible meanings:
la tam. [cu]=20
tavla melbi
la meris.
- Tom is talkerly-beautiful to Mary.
+ Tom is talkerly-beautiful to Mary.
=20
la tam. [cu]=20
se tavla melbi
la meris.
- Tom is audiencely-beautiful to Mary.
+ Tom is audiencely-beautiful to Mary.
and we see that the manner in which Tom is seen as beautiful by =
Mary changes, but Tom is still the one perceived as beautiful, and Mary, th=
e observer of beauty.
Description sumti
talker<=
secondary>example descriptionsquick-tour version Often we wish to talk about things other than the speaker, t=
he listener and things we can point to. Let's say I want to talk about a ta=
lker other than=20
mi. What I want to talk about would naturally f=
it into the first place of=20
tavla. Lojban, it turns out, has an operator th=
at pulls this first place out of a selbri and converts it to a sumti called=
a=20
description sumti
. The description sumti=20
@@ -762,21 +838,21 @@
ku may be omitted. In particular, it is never n=
ecessary in a description at the end of a sentence, so:
mi
tavla
do
le tavla
- I talk-to you about-the talker
+ I talk-to you about-the talker
means exactly the same thing as=20
.
cuneed forquick-tour version There is a problem when we want to say=20
The fast one is talking.
The=20
obvious
translation=20
le sutra tavla turns out to mean=20
the fast talker
, and has no selbri at all. To solve thi=
s problem we can use the word=20
=20
@@ -784,57 +860,57 @@
The word=20
cu has no meaning, and exists only to mark the =
beginning of the selbri within the bridi, separating it from a previous sum=
ti. It comes before any other part of the selbri, including other cmavo lik=
e=20
se or=20
te. Thus:
le sutra tavla
- The fast talker
+ The fast talker
=20
=20
=20
le sutra cu=20
tavla
- The fast one is talking.
+ The fast one is talking.
=20
=20
le sutra se tavla
- The fast talked-to one
+ The fast talked-to one
=20
=20
le sutra cu=20
se tavla
- The fast one is talked to.
+ The fast one is talked to.
KU selma'oquick-tour version kuquick-tour version Consider the following more complex example, with two=
description sumti.
mi [cu]=20
tavla
@@ -924,59 +1000,59 @@
=20
this
refers to? Lojban uses different expressions to co=
nvey the possible meanings of the English:
beautiful dogexample FIXME: TAG SPOT
le gerku [ku] cu=20
melbi
- The dog is beautiful.
+ The dog is beautiful.
The following three sentences all might translate as=20
This pleases me.
=20
ti [cu]=20
pluka
mi
- This (the dog) pleases me.
+ This (the dog) pleases me.
=20
di'u [cu]=20
pluka
mi
- This (the last sentence) pleases me (perhaps because it is grammat=
ical or sounds nice).
+ This (the last sentence) pleases me (perhaps because it is gra=
mmatical or sounds nice).
=20
la'e di'u [cu]=20
pluka
mi
- This (the meaning of the last sentence; i.e. that the dog is beaut=
iful) pleases me.
+ This (the meaning of the last sentence; i.e. that the dog is b=
eautiful) pleases me.
=20
la'edi'uquick-tour version di'uquick-tour vers=
ion =
pleases=20
uses one sumti to point to =
or refer to another by inference. It is common to write=20
la'edi'u as a single word; it is used more ofte=
n than=20
=20
di'u by itself.
@@ -1075,21 +1151,21 @@
ko<=
secondary>quick-tour version Talk!example instructs the listener to do whatever is necessary to make=20
true; it means=20
Talk!
Other examples:
ko
sutra
- Be fast!
+ Be fast!
The=20
ko need not be in the x1 place, but rather can =
occur anywhere a sumti is allowed, leading to possible Lojban commands that=
are very unlike English commands:
=20
@@ -1213,60 +1289,56 @@
mo may be used anywhere a brivla or other selbr=
i might. Keep this in mind for later examples. Unfortunately, by itself,=20
mo is a very non-specific question. The respons=
e to the question in=20
could be:
mi [cu]=20
melbi
- I am beautiful.
+ I am beautiful.
or:
mi [cu]=20
tavla
- I talk.
+ I talk.
speaker-listener =
cooperation Clearly,=20
mo requires some cooperation between the speake=
r and the respondent to ensure that the right question is being answered. I=
f context doesn't make the question specific enough, the speaker must ask t=
he question more specifically using a more complex construction such as a t=
anru (see=20
).
It is perfectly permissible for the respondent to fill in other =
unspecified places in responding to a=20
mo question. Thus, the respondent in=20
could have also specified a=
n audience, a topic, and/or a language in the response.
yes/no questions<=
/primary>quick-tour version Finally, we =
must consider questions that can be answered=20
Yes
or=20
No
, such as
-
+
-
- Are you talking to me?
-
+ Are you talking to me?
Like all yes-or-no questions in English,=20
may be reformulated as
-
+
-
- Is it true that you are talking to me?
-
+ Is it true that you are talking to me?
xu<=
secondary>quick-tour version In Lojban we have a wo=
rd that asks precisely that question in precisely the same way. The cmavo=
=20
xu, when placed in front of a bridi, asks wheth=
er that bridi is true as stated. So
xu =20
do
@@ -1587,41 +1659,41 @@
vi meaning=20
nearby
:
le vi bajra [ku] cu=20
tavla
The nearby runner talks.
- This runner talks.
+ This runner talks.
Do not confuse the use of=20
vi in=20
with the cmavo=20
ti, which also means=20
this
, but in the sense of=20
this thing
.
sumti with tenses=
quick-tour version Furthermore=
, a tense tag can appear both on the selbri and within a description, as in=
the following example (where=20
ba is the tag for future time):
le vi tavla [ku] cu=20
ba klama
The here talker [future] goes.
The talker who is here will go.
- This talker will go.
+ This talker will go.
Lojban grammatical terms
=20
grammatical terms=
quick-tour version Here is a r=
eview of the Lojban grammatical terms used in this chapter, plus some other=
s used throughout this book. Only terms that are themselves Lojban words ar=
e included: there are of course many expressions like=20
=20
indicator
in=20
that are not explained here. S=
ee the Index for further help with these.
commit 7f71f5d52e3da6b06c48038a68bf06ef8758ef03
Author: Eitan Postavsky
Date: Thu Jan 27 18:48:09 2011 -0500
Chapter 2: section IDs, s, partial s.
diff --git a/todocbook/14.xml b/todocbook/14.xml
index d4e80ba..36d37aa 100644
--- a/todocbook/14.xml
+++ b/todocbook/14.xml
@@ -478,23 +478,23 @@
la djan. nanmu .iseju la djeimyz. ninmu
Whether or not John is a man, James is a woman.
se<=
/indexterm> nai na na<=
secondary>order in logical connectives with se seorder in =
logical connectives with na If both=20
na and=20
se are present, which is legal but never necess=
ary,=20
na would come before=20
se.
JA selma'o I se=
lma'o =
ijekssyntax of The full syntax=
of ijeks, therefore, is:
-
+
.i [na] [se] JA [nai]
-
+
where the cmavo in brackets are optional.
Forethought bridi connection
=20
=20
forethought conne=
ctivescontrasted with afterthought connectives afterthough=
t connectivescontrasted with forethought connectives=
secondary> Many concepts in Lojban are expressible in two diffe=
rent ways, generally referred to as=20
afterthought
and=20
forethought
.=20
discussed what is called=
=20
diff --git a/todocbook/18.xml b/todocbook/18.xml
index 6e266cf..3593a6c 100644
--- a/todocbook/18.xml
+++ b/todocbook/18.xml
@@ -2591,52 +2591,26 @@
li re ge su'i gi pi'i re du li vo
the-number two both plus and times two equals the-number fo=
ur.
Here is a classic example of operand logical connection:
-
-
- 17.6) go li .abu bi'epi'i vei xy. te'a re ve'o su'i by. bi'epi'i =
xy.
+
=20
- su'i cy. du li no
- gi li xy. du li vei va'a by. ku'e su'i ja vu'u
- fe'a vei by. bi'ete'a re vu'u vo bi'epi'i .abu bi'epi'i cy. ve'o [=
ku'e] ve'o
- fe'i re bi'epi'i .abu
- If-and-only-if the-number=20
- a
-times-(=20
- x
power two ) plus=20
- b
-times-
- x
- plus=20
- c
equals the-number zero
- then the-number x equals the-number [ the-negation-of( b ) plus or=
minus
- the-root-of (=20
- b
-power-2 minus four-times-
- a
-times-
- c
) ]
- divided-by two-times-
- a
.
- Iff ax
- 2 + bx + c =3D 0,
- then x =3D -b =C2=B1=20
- =E2=88=9A
- (b
- 2 =E2=88=92 4ac)
- =20
-
- 2a
-
+ go li .abu bi'epi'i vei xy. te'a re ve'o su'i by. bi'epi'i xy=
. su'i cy. du li no gi li xy. du li vei va'a by. ku'e su'i ja vu'u fe'a vei=
by. bi'ete'a re vu'u vo bi'epi'i .abu bi'epi'i cy. ve'o [ku'e] ve'o fe'i r=
e bi'epi'i .abu
+ If-and-only-if the-number a
-times-(x<=
/quote> power two ) plus b
-times- x
plus c
equals the-number zero then the-number x equals the-number [ t=
he-negation-of( b ) plus or minus the-root-of (b
-power-2 min=
us four-times- a
-times- c
) ] divided-by two-=
times- a
.
+ Iff ax 2 + bx + c =3D 0, then x =
=3D -b =C2=B1 =E2=88=9A (b 2 =E2=88=
=92 4ac) 2a
+
quadratic formula=
example infix notation mixed with Polishexample Polish notation mixed with infixexample
infix notat=
ion mixed with Polish Polish notation mixed with infix Note=
the mixture of styles in=20
: the negation of b and the =
square root are represented by forethought and most of the operator precede=
nce by prefixed=20
=20
bi'e, but explicit parentheses had to be added =
to group the numerator properly. In addition, the square root parentheses c=
annot be removed here in favor of simple=20
=20
fe'a and=20
ku'e bracketing, because infix operators are pr=
esent in the operand. Getting=20
to parse perfectly using th=
e current parser took several tries: a more relaxed style would dispense wi=
th most of the=20
bi'e cmavo and just let the standard precedence=
rules be understood.
@@ -2732,31 +2706,28 @@
te'u mo'e=
terminator for ni'eterminator for=
indexterm> na'uterminator for One of the mekso design goal=
s requires the ability to make use of Lojban's vocabulary resources within =
mekso to extend the built-in cmavo for operands and operators. There are th=
ree relevant constructs: all three share the elidable terminator=20
te'u (which is also used to terminate vectors m=
arked with=20
jo'i)
na'u operator deriv=
ed from selbrieffect of selbri place structure on selbri p=
lace structureeffect on operator formed by=
conversion of s=
elbri into operator operatorconverting selbri into selbriconverting into an operator The cmavo=
=20
na'u makes a selbri into an operator. In genera=
l, the first place of the selbri specifies the result of the operator, and =
the other unfilled places specify the operands:
-
+
=20
- 18.1) li na'u tanjo te'u vei pai fe'i re [ve'o] du li ci'i
+ li na'u tanjo te'u vei pai fe'i re [ve'o] du li ci'i
=20
- The-number the-operator tangent (=20
- =CF=80 / 2 ) =3D the-number infinity.
+ The-number the-operator tangent (=CF=80 / 2 ) =3D the-numbe=
r infinity.
=20
- tan(
- =CF=80/2) =3D=20
- =E2=88=9E
-
+
+
tan(pi/2) =3D inf=
inityexample=20
tanjo is the gismu for=20
x1 is the tangent of x2
, and the=20
na'u here makes it into an operator which is th=
en used in forethought
ni'e formulaeexpressing based on pure dimensions =
conversion of selbri into op=
erand =
operandconverting selbri into =
selbric=
onverting into an operand The cmavo=20
ni'e makes a selbri into an operand. The x1 pla=
ce of the selbri generally represents a number, and therefore is often a=20
=20
ni abstraction, since=20
ni abstractions represent numbers. The=20
diff --git a/todocbook/2.xml b/todocbook/2.xml
index bb10196..5a8fd73 100644
--- a/todocbook/2.xml
+++ b/todocbook/2.xml
@@ -1,43 +1,37 @@
A Quick Tour of Lojban Grammar, With Diagrams
-
+
The concept of the bridi
bridiconcept of This chapter gives diagrammed e=
xamples of basic Lojban sentence structures. The most general pattern is co=
vered first, followed by successive variations on the basic components of t=
he Lojban sentence. There are many more capabilities not covered in this ch=
apter, but covered in detail in later chapters, so this chapter is a=20
quick tour
of the material later covered more slowly th=
roughout the book. It also introduces most of the Lojban words used to disc=
uss Lojban grammar.
taller<=
secondary>example hitsexample fatherexamp=
le J=
ohn and Samexample Let us cons=
ider John and Sam and three statements about them:
=20
-
+
-
- John is the father of Sam.
-
+ John is the father of Sam.
-
+
-
- John hits Sam.
- =20
-
+ John hits Sam.
+ =20
-
+
-
- John is taller than Sam.
- =20
-
+ John is taller than Sam.
+ =20
sumtirelation with bridi brivlarelation to bridi predicati=
oncompared with bridi bridicompared w=
ith predication predicationas a relationship=
indexterm> relationshipactive/static/attributive compared =
These examples all describe relationships between John and Sam. However, in=
English, we use the noun=20
=20
father
to describe a static relationship in=20
, the verb=20
hits
to describe an active relationship in=20
=20
, and the adjective=20
taller
to describe an attributive relationship in=20
=20
@@ -60,605 +54,554 @@
John is the father of Sam| | |=20
sumti
selbri
sumti (argument)
giveexample In a relationship, there are a defi=
nite number of things being related. In English, for example,=20
give
has three places: the donor, the recipient and the=
gift. For example:
-
+
-
- John gives Sam the book.
-
+ John gives Sam the book.
and
-
+
-
- Sam gives John the book.
-
+ Sam gives John the book.
mean two different things because the relative positions of=20
John
and=20
Sam
have been switched. Further,
-
+
-
- The book gives John Sam.
-
+ The book gives John Sam.
seems strange to us merely because the places are being filled b=
y unorthodox arguments. The relationship expressed by=20
give
has not changed.
place structure=
primary>definition of In Lojban, each se=
lbri has a specified number and type of arguments, known collectively as it=
s=20
place structure
. The simplest kind of selbri consists o=
f a single root word, called a=20
gismu, and the definition in a dictionary gives=
the place structure explicitly. The primary task of constructing a Lojban =
sentence, after choosing the relationship itself, is deciding what you will=
use to fill in the sumti places.
This book uses the Lojban terms=20
bridi,=20
sumti, and=20
selbri, because it is best to come to understan=
d them independently of the English associations of the corresponding words=
, which are only roughly similar in meaning anyhow.
underlinesexample double underscore notation convention for Quick Tour chap=
ter un=
derscore notation for Quick Tour chapter notation conventionsfor Quick Tour chapter The Lojban examples in this=
chapter (but not in the rest of the book) use a single underline (---) und=
er each sumti, and a double underline (=3D=3D=3D) under each selbri, to hel=
p you to tell them apart.
-
+
Pronunciation
pronunciationquick-tour version Detailed pronun=
ciation and spelling rules are given in=20
, but what follows will keep the =
reader from going too far astray while digesting this chapter.
vowels<=
secondary>pronunciation ofquick-tour version Lojban has six recognized vowels:=20
- a
,=20
+ a,=20
e,=20
i,=20
- o
,=20
- u
and=20
+ o,=20
+ u and=20
y. The first five are roughly pronounced as=20
a
as in=20
father
,=20
e as in=20
let
,=20
i as in=20
machine
,=20
- o
as in=20
+ o as in=20
dome
and=20
- u
as in=20
+ u as in=20
flute
.=20
y is pronounced as the sound called=20
schwa
, that is, as the unstressed=20
a
as in=20
about
or=20
around
.
consonantspronunciation ofquick-tour version Twelve consonants in Lojban are pronounced more or less =
as their counterparts are in English:=20
- b
,=20
- d
,=20
- f
,=20
- k
,=20
- l
,=20
- m
,=20
- n
,=20
- p
,=20
- r
,=20
- t
,=20
- v
and=20
+ b,=20
+ d,=20
+ f,=20
+ k,=20
+ l,=20
+ m,=20
+ n,=20
+ p,=20
+ r,=20
+ t,=20
+ v and=20
z. The letter=20
- c
, on the other hand is pronounced as the=20
+ c, on the other hand is pronounced as the=20
sh
in=20
hush
, while=20
- j
is its voiced counterpart, the sound of the=20
+ j is its voiced counterpart, the sound of the=
=20
s
in=20
pleasure
.=20
g is always pronounced as it is in=20
gift
, never as in=20
giant.=20
- s
is as in=20
+ s is as in=20
sell
, never as in=20
rose
. The sound of=20
- x
is not found in English in normal words. It is found =
as=20
+ x is not found in English in normal words. It i=
s found as=20
ch
in Scottish=20
loch
, as=20
- j
in Spanish=20
+ j
in Spanish=20
junta, and as=20
ch
in German=20
Bach
; it also appears in the English interjection=20
yecchh!
. It gets easier to say as you practice it. The =
letter=20
- r
can be trilled, but doesn't have to be.
+ r can be trilled, but doesn't=
have to be.
diphthongspronunciation ofquick-tour version The Lojban diphthongs=20
ai,=20
ei,=20
oi, and=20
au are pronounced much as in the English words=
=20
sigh
,=20
say
,=20
boy
, and=20
how
. Other Lojban diphthongs begin with an=20
- i pronounced like English=20
- y (for example,=20
+ i pronounced like English=20
+ y (for example,=20
io is pronounced=20
yo
) or else with a=20
- u
pronounced like English=20
+ u pronounced like English=20
w
(for example,=20
ua is pronounced=20
wa
).
period<=
secondary>quick-tour version commaquick-tour version apostroph=
equick-tour version Lojban als=
o has three=20
semi-letters
: the period, the comma and the apostrophe.=
The period represents a glottal stop or a pause; it is a required stoppage=
of the flow of air in the speech stream. The apostrophe sounds just like t=
he English letter=20
=20
h
. Unlike a regular consonant, it is not found at the b=
eginning or end of a word, nor is it found adjacent to a consonant; it is o=
nly found between two vowels. The comma has no sound associated with it, an=
d is used to separate syllables that might ordinarily run together. It is n=
ot used in this chapter.
stress<=
secondary>quick-tour version Stress falls on the ne=
xt to the last syllable of all words, unless that vowel is=20
- y, which is never stressed; in such words the t=
hird-to-last syllable is stressed. If a word only has one syllable, then th=
at syllable is not stressed.
+ y, which is never stressed; i=
n such words the third-to-last syllable is stressed. If a word only has one=
syllable, then that syllable is not stressed.
All Lojban words are pronounced as they are spelled: there are n=
o silent letters.
-
+
Words that can act as sumti
pro-sumtiquick-tour version Here is a short tab=
le of single words used as sumti. This table provides examples only, not th=
e entire set of such words, which may be found in=20
- .
-
- mi I/me, we/us
- do you
- ti this, these
- ta that, those
- tu that far away, those far away
- zo'e unspecified value (used when a sumti is
- unimportant or obvious)
-
+ .
+
+ mi I/me, we/us
+ do you
+ ti this, these
+ ta that, those
+ tu that far away, those far away
+ zo'e unspecified value (used when a sumti is
+ unimportant or obvious)
+
Lojban sumti are not specific as to number (singular or plural),=
nor gender (masculine/feminine/neutral). Such distinctions can be optional=
ly added by methods that are beyond the scope of this chapter.
=20
pointing cmavoquick-tour version The cmavo=20
ti,=20
ta, and=20
tu refer to whatever the speaker is pointing at=
, and should not be used to refer to things that cannot in principle be poi=
nted at.
namesquick-tour version Names may also be used =
as sumti, provided they are preceded with the word=20
- la
:
-
- la meris. the one/ones named Mary
- la djan. the one/ones named John
-
+ la:
+
+ la meris. the one/ones named Mary
+ la djan. the one/ones named John
+
Other Lojban spelling versions are possible for names from other=
languages, and there are restrictions on which letters may appear in Lojba=
n names: see=20
- for more information.
+ for more information.<=
/para>
-
+
Some words used to indicate selbri relations
selbri list for q=
uick tour Here is a short table of some words used as=
Lojban selbri in this chapter:
-
- vecnu x1 (seller) sells x2 (goods) to x3 (buyer) for x4 (price)
- tavla x1 (talker) talks to x2 (audience) about x3 (topic) in languag=
e x4
- sutra x1 (agent) is fast at doing x2 (action)
- blari'o x1 (object/light source) is blue-green
- melbi x1 (object/idea) is beautiful to x2 (observer) by standard x3
- cutci x1 is a shoe/boot for x2 (foot) made of x3 (material)
- bajra x1 runs on x2 (surface) using x3 (limbs) in manner x4 (gait)
- klama x1 goes/comes to x2 (destination) from x3 (origin point) via x=
4 (route) using
- x5 (means of transportation)
- pluka x1 pleases/is pleasing to x2 (experiencer) under conditions x3
-
- gerku x1 is a dog of breed x2
- kurji x1 takes care of x2
- kanro x1 is healthy by standard x2
-
- stali x1 stays/remains with x2
- zarci x1 is a market/store/shop selling x2 (products) operated by x3=
(storekeeper)
-
+
+ vecnu x1 (seller) sells x2 (goods) to x3 (buyer) for x4 (price)
+ tavla x1 (talker) talks to x2 (audience) about x3 (topic) in langu=
age x4
+ sutra x1 (agent) is fast at doing x2 (action)
+ blari'o x1 (object/light source) is blue-green
+ melbi x1 (object/idea) is beautiful to x2 (observer) by standard x=
3
+ cutci x1 is a shoe/boot for x2 (foot) made of x3 (material)
+ bajra x1 runs on x2 (surface) using x3 (limbs) in manner x4 (gait)
+ klama x1 goes/comes to x2 (destination) from x3 (origin point) via=
x4 (route) using
+ x5 (means of transportation)
+ pluka x1 pleases/is pleasing to x2 (experiencer) under conditions =
x3
+
+ gerku x1 is a dog of breed x2
+ kurji x1 takes care of x2
+ kanro x1 is healthy by standard x2
+
+ stali x1 stays/remains with x2
+ zarci x1 is a market/store/shop selling x2 (products) operated by =
x3 (storekeeper)
+
x1notation conventionquick-tour version Each selbri (relation) has a specific rule that defines the r=
ole of each sumti in the bridi, based on its position. In the table above, =
that order was expressed by labeling the sumti positions as x1, x2, x3, x4,=
and x5.
words not in the =
dictionary Like the table in=20
- , this table is far from comp=
lete: in fact, no complete table can exist, because Lojban allows new words=
to be created (in specified ways) whenever a speaker or writer finds the e=
xisting supply of words inadequate. This notion is a basic difference betwe=
en Lojban (and some other languages such as German and Chinese) and English=
; in English, most people are very leery of using words that=20
+ , this table is far from comple=
te: in fact, no complete table can exist, because Lojban allows new words t=
o be created (in specified ways) whenever a speaker or writer finds the exi=
sting supply of words inadequate. This notion is a basic difference between=
Lojban (and some other languages such as German and Chinese) and English; =
in English, most people are very leery of using words that=20
aren't in the dictionary
. Lojbanists are encouraged to =
invent new words; doing so is a major way of participating in the developme=
nt of the language.=20
explains how to make new words,=
and=20
explains how to give them appropriat=
e meanings.
-
+
Some simple Lojban bridi
bridiquick-tour version Let's look at a simple =
Lojban bridi. The place structure of the gismu=20
tavla is
-
+
-
- x1 talks to x2 about x3 in language x4
-
+ x1 talks to x2 about x3 in language x4
where the=20
x
es with following numbers represent the various argum=
ents that could be inserted at the given positions in the English sentence.=
For example:
-
+
-
- John talks to Sam about engineering in Lojban.
- =20
-
+ John talks to Sam about engineering in Lojban.
+ =20
engineeringexample has=20
John
in the x1 place,=20
Sam
in the x2 place,=20
engineering
in the x3 place, and=20
=20
Lojban
in the x4 place, and could be paraphrased:
-
+
-
- Talking is going on,
- with speaker John
- and listener Sam
- and subject matter engineering
- =20
- and language Lojban.
-
+ Talking is going on, with speaker John and listener Sam and su=
bject matter engineering and language Lojban.
The Lojban bridi corresponding to=20
will have the form
-
-
- 5.4) =20
-x1 [cu]=20
-tavla=20
-x2=20
-x3=20
-x4
-
+
+ x1 [cu]=
=20
+ tavla=20
+ x2=20
+ x3=20
+ x4
+
cu<=
secondary>quick-tour version tavla cuuse ofquick-tour version cuomission ofquick-tour version The word=20
- cu
serves as a separator between any preceding sumti an=
d the selbri. It can often be omitted, as in the following examples.
+ cu serves as a separator between any preceding =
sumti and the selbri. It can often be omitted, as in the following examples=
.
-
-
- 5.5) =20
-mi=20
-tavla=20
-do=20
-zo'e=20
-zo'e
- I talk to you about something in some language.
+
+ mi=20
+ tavla=20
+ do=20
+ zo'e=20
+ zo'e
+ I talk to you about something in some language.
=20
- =20
-
+ =20
+
-
-
- 5.6) =20
-do=20
-tavla=20
-mi=20
-ta=20
-zo'e
- You talk to me about that thing in a language.
+
+ do=20
+ tavla=20
+ mi=20
+ ta=20
+ zo'e
+ You talk to me about that thing in a language.
=20
- =20
-
+ =20
+
-
-
- 5.7) =20
-mi=20
-tavla=20
-zo'e=20
-tu=20
-ti
- I talk to someone about that thing yonder in this language.
-
+
+ mi=20
+ tavla=20
+ zo'e=20
+ tu=20
+ ti
+ I talk to someone about that thing yonder in this language.
+
(=20
is a bit unusual, as there =
is no easy way to point to a language; one might point to a copy of this bo=
ok, and hope the meaning gets across!)
zo'equick-tour version ellipsisquick-tour version<=
/secondary> When there are one or more occurrences of the cmavo=
=20
zo'e at the end of a bridi, they may be omitted=
, a process called=20
ellipsis
.=20
=20
and=20
may be expressed thus:
-
-
- 5.8) =20
-mi=20
-tavla=20
-do
- I talk to you (about something in some language).
+
+ mi=20
+ tavla=20
+ do
+ I talk to you (about something in some language).
=20
- =20
-
+ =20
+
-
-
- 5.9) =20
-do=20
-tavla=20
-mi=20
-ta
+
+ do=20
+ tavla=20
+ mi=20
+ ta
You talk to me about that thing (in some language).
-
+
Note that=20
is not subject to ellipsis =
by this direct method, as the=20
=20
zo'e in it is not at the end of the bridi.
-
+
Variant bridi structure
sumti placement=
primary>variantquick-tour version Consider the sentence
-
-
- 6.1) =20
-mi [cu]=20
-vecnu
-ti
-ta
-zo'e
- seller-x1 sells goods-sold-x2 buyer-x3 price-x4
- I sell this to that for some price.
- I sell this-thing/these-things to that-buyer/those-buyers.
- (The price is obvious or unimportant.)
-
+
+ mi [cu]=20
+ vecnu
+ ti
+ ta
+ zo'e
+ seller-x1 sells goods-sold-x2 buyer-x3 price-x4
+ I sell this to that for some price.
+ I sell this-thing/these-things to that-buyer/those-buyers.
+ (The price is obvious or unimportant.)
+
has one sumti (the x1) befo=
re the selbri. It is also possible to put more than one sumti before the se=
lbri, without changing the order of sumti:
-
-
- 6.2) =20
-mi
-ti [cu]=20
-vecnu
-ta
- seller-x1 goods-sold-x2 sells buyer-x3
- I this sell to that.
- (translates as stilted or poetic English)
- I this thing do sell to that buyer.
+
+ mi
+ ti [cu]=20
+ vecnu
+ ta
+ seller-x1 goods-sold-x2 sells buyer-x3
+ I this sell to that.
+ (translates as stilted or poetic English)
+ I this thing do sell to that buyer.
=20
- =20
-
+ =20
+
-
-
- 6.3) =20
-mi
-ti
-ta [cu]=20
-vecnu
- seller-x1 goods-sold-x2 buyer-x3 sells
- I this to that sell.
- (translates as stilted or poetic English)
- I this thing to that buyer do sell.
-
+
+ mi
+ ti
+ ta [cu]=20
+ vecnu
+ seller-x1 goods-sold-x2 buyer-x3 sells
+ I this to that sell.
+ (translates as stilted or poetic English)
+ I this thing to that buyer do sell.
+
- through=20
+ through=20
mean the same thing. Usuall=
y, placing more than one sumti before the selbri is done for style or for e=
mphasis on the sumti that are out-of-place from their normal position. (Nat=
ive speakers of languages other than English may prefer such orders.)
observativesquick-tour version If there are no =
sumti before the selbri, then it is understood that the x1 sumti value is e=
quivalent to=20
zo'e; i.e. unimportant or obvious, and therefor=
e not given. Any sumti after the selbri start counting from x2.
-
-
- 6.4) =20
-ta [cu]=20
-melbi
- object/idea-x1 is-beautiful (to someone by some standard)
- That/Those is/are beautiful.
- That is beautiful.
- Those are beautiful.
-
+
+ ta [cu]=20
+ melbi
+ object/idea-x1 is-beautiful (to someone by some standard)
+ That/Those is/are beautiful.
+ That is beautiful.
+ Those are beautiful.
+
when the x1 is omitted, becomes:
-
-
- 6.5) =20
-________ [cu]=
=20
-melbi
- unspecified-x1 is-beautiful (to someone by some standard)
- Beautiful!
- It's beautiful!
-
+
+ ________ =
[cu]=20
+ melbi
+ unspecified-x1 is-beautiful (to someone by some standard)
+ Beautiful!
+ It's beautiful!
+
Omitting the x1 adds emphasis to the selbri relation, which has =
become first in the sentence. This kind of sentence is termed an observativ=
e, because it is often used when someone first observes or takes note of th=
e relationship, and wishes to quickly communicate it to someone else. Commo=
nly understood English observatives include=20
=20
=20
Smoke!
upon seeing smoke or smelling the odor, or=20
Car!
to a person crossing the street who might be in da=
nger. Any Lojban selbri can be used as an observative if no sumti appear be=
fore the selbri.
=20
The word=20
- cu
does not occur in an observative;=20
+ cu does not occur in an observative;=20
=20
- cu
is a separator, and there must be a sumti before the=
selbri that needs to be kept separate for=20
- cu
to be used. With no sumti preceding the selbri,=20
- cu
is not permitted. Short words like=20
- cu
which serve grammatical functions are called=20
+ cu is a separator, and there must be a sumti be=
fore the selbri that needs to be kept separate for=20
+ cu to be used. With no sumti preceding the selb=
ri,=20
+ cu is not permitted. Short words like=20
+ cu which serve grammatical functions are called=
=20
cmavo in Lojban.
-
+
Varying the order of sumti
SE selma'oquick-tour version sequick-tour vers=
ion =
sumti reorderingquick-tour version For one reason or another you may want to change the order, placing on=
e particular sumti at the front of the bridi. The cmavo=20
- se
, when placed before the last word of the selbri, wil=
l switch the meanings of the first and second sumti places. So
+ se, when placed before the last word of the sel=
bri, will switch the meanings of the first and second sumti places. So
-
-
- 7.1) =20
-mi
-tavla
-do
-ti
- I talk to you about this.
-
+
+ mi
+ tavla
+ do
+ ti
+ I talk to you about this.
+
has the same meaning as
-
-
- 7.2) =20
-do
-se tavla
-mi
-ti
- You are talked to by me about this.
-
+
+ do
+ se tavla
+ mi
+ ti
+ You are talked to by me about this.
+
te<=
secondary>quick-tour version The cmavo=20
- te
, when used in the same location, switches the meanin=
gs of the first and the third sumti places.
+ te, when used in the same location, switches th=
e meanings of the first and the third sumti places.
-
-
- 7.3) =20
-mi
-tavla
-do
-ti
- I talk to you about this.
-
+
+ mi
+ tavla
+ do
+ ti
+ I talk to you about this.
+
has the same meaning as
-
-
- 7.4) =20
-ti
-te tavla
-do
-mi
- This is talked about to you by me.
-
+
+ ti
+ te tavla
+ do
+ mi
+ This is talked about to you by me.
+
Note that only the first and third sumti have switched places; t=
he second sumti has remained in the second place.
xe<=
secondary>quick-tour version vequick-tour version The cmavo=20
- ve
and=20
- xe
switch the first and fourth sumti places, and the fi=
rst and fifth sumti places, respectively. These changes in the order of pla=
ces are known as=20
+ ve and=20
+ xe switch the first and fourth sumti places, an=
d the first and fifth sumti places, respectively. These changes in the orde=
r of places are known as=20
conversions
, and the=20
- se
,=20
- te
,=20
- ve
, and=20
- xe
cmavo are said to convert the selbri.
+ se,=20
+ te,=20
+ ve, and=20
+ xe cmavo are said to convert the selbri.
More than one of these operators may be used on a given selbri a=
t one time, and in such a case they are evaluated from left to right. Howev=
er, in practice they are used one at a time, as there are better tools for =
complex manipulation of the sumti places. See=20
- for details.
+ for details.
passive voice The effect is similar to what in English is called the=
=20
passive voice
. In Lojban, the converted selbri has a ne=
w place structure that is renumbered to reflect the place reversal, thus ha=
ving effects when such a conversion is used in combination with other const=
ructs such as=20
=20
=20
- le selbri [ku]
(see=20
- ).
+ le selbri [ku] (see=20
+ ).
-
+
The basic structure of longer utterances
NIhO selma'o<=
/primary>quick-tour version ni'oquick-tour =
version <=
primary>Iquick-tour version <=
indexterm type=3D"lojban-word-imported">.iqui=
ck-tour version People don't always say just one se=
ntence. Lojban has a specific structure for talk or writing that is longer =
than one sentence. The entirety of a given speech event or written text is =
called an utterance. The sentences (usually, but not always, bridi) in an u=
tterance are separated by the cmavo=20
ni'o and=20
.i. These correspond to a brief pause (or nothi=
ng at all) in spoken English, and the various punctuation marks like period=
, question mark, and exclamation mark in written English. These separators =
prevent the sumti at the beginning of the next sentence from being mistaken=
for a trailing sumti of the previous sentence.
=20
The cmavo=20
ni'o separates paragraphs (covering different t=
opics of discussion). In a long text or utterance, the topical structure of=
the text may be indicated by multiple=20
ni'o s, with perhaps=20
ni'oni'oni'o used to indicate a chapter,=20
ni'oni'o to indicate a section, and a single=20
ni'o to indicate a subtopic corresponding to a =
single English paragraph.
The cmavo=20
.i separates sentences. It is sometimes compoun=
ded with words that modify the exact meaning (the semantics) of the sentenc=
e in the context of the utterance. (The cmavo=20
xu, discussed in=20
- , is one such word =E2=80=93=
it turns the sentence from a statement to a question about truth.) When mo=
re than one person is talking, a new speaker will usually omit the=20
+ , is one such word =E2=80=93 it t=
urns the sentence from a statement to a question about truth.) When more th=
an one person is talking, a new speaker will usually omit the=20
.i even though she/he may be continuing on the =
same topic.
It is still O.K. for a new speaker to say the=20
.i before continuing; indeed, it is encouraged =
for maximum clarity (since it is possible that the second speaker might mer=
ely be adding words onto the end of the first speaker's sentence). A good t=
ranslation for=20
.i is the=20
and
used in run-on sentences when people are talking in=
formally:=20
I did this, and then I did that, and ..., and ...
.
-
+
tanru
tanruquick-tour version When two gismu are adja=
cent, the first one modifies the second, and the selbri takes its place str=
ucture from the rightmost word. Such combinations of gismu are called=20
tanru. For example,
sutra tavla
has the place structure
-
+
-
- x1 is a fast type-of talker to x2 about x3 in language x4
- x1 talks fast to x2 about x3 in language x4
-
+ x1 is a fast type-of talker to x2 about x3 in language x4
+ x1 talks fast to x2 about x3 in language x4
fast talkerexample tanru default groupingquick-tour ve=
rsion When three or more gismu are in a row, the fi=
rst modifies the second, and that combined meaning modifies the third, and =
that combined meaning modifies the fourth, and so on. For example
sutra tavla cutci
fast-talker shoe<=
/primary>example has the place structure=
-
+
-
- s1 is a fast-talker type of shoe worn by s2 of material s3
-
+ s1 is a fast-talker type of shoe worn by s2 of material s3
That is, it is a shoe that is worn by a fast talker rather than =
a shoe that is fast and is also worn by a talker.
=20
Note especially the use of=20
type-of
as a mechanism for connecting the English trans=
lations of the two or more gismu; this convention helps the learner underst=
and each tanru in its context. Creative interpretations are also possible, =
however:
@@ -692,425 +635,381 @@
Lepidopteraexample butterflysocialexample social butterflyexample m=
ust always be an insect with large brightly-colored wings, of the family=20
Lepidoptera.
=20
tanruplace structure ofquick-tour version The place structure of a tanru is always that of the final =
component of the tanru. Thus, the following has the place structure of=20
klama:
-
-
- 9.8) =20
-mi [cu]=20
-sutra klama
-la meris.
- I quickly-go to Mary.
-
+
+ mi [cu]=20
+ sutra klama
+ la meris.
+ I quickly-go to Mary.
+
tanru conversion<=
/primary>effect on place structurequick-to=
ur version With the conversion=20
se klama as the final component of the tanru, t=
he place structure of the entire selbri is that of=20
se klama: the x1 place is the destination, and =
the x2 place is the one who goes:
=20
-
-
- 9.9) =20
-mi [cu]=20
-sutra se klama
-la meris.
- I quickly am-gone-to by Mary.
-
+
+ mi [cu]=20
+ sutra se klama
+ la meris.
+ I quickly am-gone-to by Mary.
+
tanruand conversionquick-tour version<=
/indexterm> The following example shows that there is more to conversion th=
an merely switching places, though:
-
-
- 9.10) =20
-la tam. [cu]=20
-melbi tavla
-la meris.
- Tom beautifully-talks to Mary.
- Tom is a beautiful-talker to Mary.
-
+
+ la tam. [cu]=20
+ melbi tavla
+ la meris.
+ Tom beautifully-talks to Mary.
+ Tom is a beautiful-talker to Mary.
+
has the place structure of=20
tavla, but note the two distinct interpretation=
s.
Now, using conversion, we can modify the place structure order:<=
/para>
=20
-
-
- 9.11) =20
-la meris. [cu]=20
-melbi se tavla
-la tam.
- Mary is beautifully-talked-to by Tom.
- Mary is a beautiful-audience for Tom.
-
+
+ la meris. [cu]=20
+ melbi se tavla
+ la tam.
+ Mary is beautifully-talked-to by Tom.
+ Mary is a beautiful-audience for Tom.
+
and we see that the modification has been changed so as to focus=
on Mary's role in the bridi relationship, leading to a different set of po=
ssible interpretations.
Note that there is no place structure change if the modifying te=
rm is converted, and so less drastic variation in possible meanings:
-
-
- 9.12) =20
-la tam. [cu]=20
-tavla melbi
-la meris.
- Tom is talkerly-beautiful to Mary.
+
+ la tam. [cu]=20
+ tavla melbi
+ la meris.
+ Tom is talkerly-beautiful to Mary.
=20
-
+
-
-
- 9.13) =20
-la tam. [cu]=20
-se tavla melbi
-la meris.
- Tom is audiencely-beautiful to Mary.
-
+
+ la tam. [cu]=20
+ se tavla melbi
+ la meris.
+ Tom is audiencely-beautiful to Mary.
+
and we see that the manner in which Tom is seen as beautiful by =
Mary changes, but Tom is still the one perceived as beautiful, and Mary, th=
e observer of beauty.
-
+
Description sumti
talker<=
secondary>example descriptionsquick-tour version Often we wish to talk about things other than the speaker, t=
he listener and things we can point to. Let's say I want to talk about a ta=
lker other than=20
mi. What I want to talk about would naturally f=
it into the first place of=20
tavla. Lojban, it turns out, has an operator th=
at pulls this first place out of a selbri and converts it to a sumti called=
a=20
description sumti
. The description sumti=20
le tavla ku means=20
the talker
, and may be used wherever any sumti may be u=
sed.
For example,
-
-
- 10.1) =20
-mi
-tavla
-do
-le tavla ku
-
+
+ mi
+ tavla
+ do
+ le tavla ku
+
means the same as
I talk to you about the talker
where=20
the talker
is presumably someone other than me, though =
not necessarily.
Similarly=20
le sutra tavla ku is=20
the fast talker
, and=20
=20
le sutra te tavla ku is=20
the fast subject of talk
or=20
the subject of fast talk
. Which of these related meanin=
gs is understood will depend on the context in which the expression is used=
. The most plausible interpretation within the context will generally be as=
sumed by a listener to be the intended one.
In many cases the word=20
- ku
may be omitted. In particular, it is never necessary=
in a description at the end of a sentence, so:
+ ku may be omitted. In particular, it is never n=
ecessary in a description at the end of a sentence, so:
-
-
- 10.3) =20
-mi
-tavla
-do
-le tavla
- I talk-to you about-the talker
-
+
+ mi
+ tavla
+ do
+ le tavla
+ I talk-to you about-the talker
+
means exactly the same thing as=20
.
cuneed forquick-tour version There is a problem when we want to say=20
The fast one is talking.
The=20
obvious
translation=20
le sutra tavla turns out to mean=20
the fast talker
, and has no selbri at all. To solve thi=
s problem we can use the word=20
=20
- cu
, which so far has always been optional, in front of =
the selbri.
+ cu, which so far has always been optional, in f=
ront of the selbri.
The word=20
- cu
has no meaning, and exists only to mark the beginnin=
g of the selbri within the bridi, separating it from a previous sumti. It c=
omes before any other part of the selbri, including other cmavo like=20
- se
or=20
- te
. Thus:
+ cu has no meaning, and exists only to mark the =
beginning of the selbri within the bridi, separating it from a previous sum=
ti. It comes before any other part of the selbri, including other cmavo lik=
e=20
+ se or=20
+ te. Thus:
-
-
- 10.4) =20
-le sutra tavla
- The fast talker
+
+ le sutra tavla
+ The fast talker
=20
=20
- =20
-
+ =20
+
-
-
- 10.5) =20
-le sutra cu=20
-tavla
- The fast one is talking.
+
+ le sutra cu=20
+ tavla
+ The fast one is talking.
=20
- =20
-
+ =20
+
-
-
- 10.6) =20
-le sutra se tavla
- The fast talked-to one
+
+ le sutra se tavla
+ The fast talked-to one
=20
- =20
-
+ =20
+
-
-
- 10.7) =20
-le sutra cu=20
-se tavla
- The fast one is talked to.
-
+
+ le sutra cu=20
+ se tavla
+ The fast one is talked to.
+
KU selma'oquick-tour version kuquick-tour version Consider the following more complex example, with two=
description sumti.
-
-
- 10.8) =20
-mi [cu]=20
-tavla
-le vecnu [ku]
-le blari'o [ku]
- I talk-to the seller about the blue-green-thing.
-
+
+ mi [cu]=20
+ tavla
+ le vecnu [ku]
+ le blari'o [ku]
+ I talk-to the seller about the blue-green-thing.
+
The sumti=20
le vecnu contains the selbri=20
vecnu, which has the=20
seller
in the x1 place, and uses it in this sentence to=
describe a particular=20
seller
that the speaker has in mind (one that he or she=
probably expects the listener will also know about). Similarly, the speake=
r has a particular blue-green thing in mind, which is described using=20
- le
to mark=20
+ le to mark=20
blari'o, a selbri whose first sumti is somethin=
g blue-green.
It is safe to omit both occurrences of=20
- ku
in=20
+ ku in=20
, and it is also safe to omi=
t the=20
- cu
.
+ cu.
-
+
Examples of brivla
brivla<=
secondary>types ofquick-tour version The simplest form of selbri is an individual word. A word which may =
by itself express a selbri relation is called a=20
brivla. The three types of brivla are gismu (ro=
ot words), lujvo (compounds), and fu'ivla (borrowings from other languages)=
. All have identical grammatical uses. So far, most of our selbri have been=
gismu or tanru built from gismu.
=20
gismuquick-tour version gismu:
-
-
- 11.1) =20
-mi [cu]=20
-klama
-ti
-zo'e
-zo'e
-ta
- Go-er goes destination origin route means.
- I go here (to this) using that means (from somewhere via some route=
).
-
+
+ mi [cu]=20
+ klama
+ ti
+ zo'e
+ zo'e
+ ta
+ Go-er goes destination origin route means.
+ I go here (to this) using that means (from somewhere via some rout=
e).
+
lujvoquick-tour version lujvo:
-
-
- 11.2) =20
-ta [cu]=20
-blari'o
- That is-blue-green.
-
+
+ ta [cu]=20
+ blari'o
+ That is-blue-green.
+
fu'ivla=
quick-tour version fu'ivla:
-
-
- 11.3) =20
-ti [cu]=20
-djarspageti
- This is-spaghetti.
+
+ ti [cu]=20
+ djarspageti
+ This is-spaghetti.
=20
-
+
cmavo as selbri=
primary>quick-tour version Some cmavo ma=
y also serve as selbri, acting as variables that stand for another selbri. =
The most commonly used of these is=20
go'i, which represents the main bridi of the pr=
evious Lojban sentence, with any new sumti or other sentence features being=
expressed replacing the previously expressed ones. Thus, in this context:<=
/para>
-
-
- 11.4) =20
-ta [cu]=20
-go'i
- That too/same-as-last selbri.
- That (is spaghetti), too.
+
+ ta [cu]=20
+ go'i
+ That too/same-as-last selbri.
+ That (is spaghetti), too.
=20
-
+
-
+
The sumti=20
di'u and=20
la'e di'u
referencequick-tour version In English, I might=
say=20
The dog is beautiful
, and you might reply=20
This pleases me.
How do you know what=20
=20
this
refers to? Lojban uses different expressions to co=
nvey the possible meanings of the English:
- beautiful dogexample FIXME: TAG SPOT
+ beautiful dogexample FIXME: TAG SPOT
-
-
- 12.1) =20
-le gerku [ku] cu=20
-melbi
- The dog is beautiful.
-
+
+ le gerku [ku] cu=20
+ melbi
+ The dog is beautiful.
+
The following three sentences all might translate as=20
This pleases me.
=20
-
-
- 12.2) =20
-ti [cu]=20
-pluka
-mi
- This (the dog) pleases me.
+
+ ti [cu]=20
+ pluka
+ mi
+ This (the dog) pleases me.
=20
-
+
-
-
- 12.3) =20
-di'u [cu]=20
-pluka
-mi
- This (the last sentence) pleases me (perhaps because it is grammati=
cal or sounds nice).
+
+ di'u [cu]=20
+ pluka
+ mi
+ This (the last sentence) pleases me (perhaps because it is grammat=
ical or sounds nice).
=20
-
+
-
-
- 12.4) =20
-la'e di'u [cu]=20
-pluka
-mi
- This (the meaning of the last sentence; i.e. that the dog is beauti=
ful) pleases me.
+
+ la'e di'u [cu]=20
+ pluka
+ mi
+ This (the meaning of the last sentence; i.e. that the dog is beaut=
iful) pleases me.
=20
-
+
la'edi'uquick-tour version di'uquick-tour vers=
ion =
pleases=20
uses one sumti to point to =
or refer to another by inference. It is common to write=20
la'edi'u as a single word; it is used more ofte=
n than=20
=20
di'u by itself.
-
+
Possession
possessionquick-tour version=20
Possession
refers to the concept of specifying an objec=
t by saying who it belongs to (or with). A full explanation of Lojban posse=
ssion is given in=20
. A simple means of expres=
sing possession, however, is to place a sumti representing the possessor of=
an object within the description sumti that refers to the object: specific=
ally, between the=20
- le
and the selbri of the description:
+ le and the selbri of the description:
-
-
- 13.1) =20
-le mi gerku cu=20
-sutra
- The of-me dog is fast.
- My dog is fast.
-
+
+ le mi gerku cu=20
+ sutra
+ The of-me dog is fast.
+ My dog is fast.
+
possession not ow=
nershipquick-tour version In L=
ojban, possession doesn't necessarily mean ownership: one may=20
possess
a chair simply by sitting on it, even though it=
actually belongs to someone else. English uses possession casually in the =
same way, but also uses it to refer to actual ownership or even more intima=
te relationships:=20
my arm
doesn't mean=20
some arm I own
but rather=20
the arm that is part of my body
. Lojban has methods of =
specifying all these different kinds of possession precisely and easily.
-
+
Vocatives and commands
=20
DOI selma'o=
primary>quick-tour version doiquick-tour ve=
rsion vocativesquick-tour version =
You may call someone's attention to the fact that you are addressing them b=
y using=20
doi followed by their name. The sentence
doi djan.
@@ -1148,229 +1047,203 @@
co'o. djan.
Good-bye, John.
imperativesquick-tour version commandsquick-tour vers=
ion Commands are expressed in Lojban by a simple va=
riation of the main bridi structure. If you say
-
-
- 14.4) =20
-do
-tavla
- You are-talking.
-
+
+ do
+ tavla
+ You are-talking.
+
you are simply making a statement of fact. In order to issue a c=
ommand in Lojban, substitute the word=20
ko for=20
do. The bridi
-
-
- 14.5) =20
-ko
-tavla
-
+
+ ko
+ tavla
+
ko<=
secondary>quick-tour version Talk!example instructs the listener to do whatever is necessary to make=20
true; it means=20
Talk!
Other examples:
-
-
- 14.6) =20
-ko
-sutra
- Be fast!
-
+
+ ko
+ sutra
+ Be fast!
+
The=20
ko need not be in the x1 place, but rather can =
occur anywhere a sumti is allowed, leading to possible Lojban commands that=
are very unlike English commands:
=20
-
-
- 14.7) =20
-mi
-tavla
-ko
- Be talked to by me
- Let me talk to you.
-
+
+ mi
+ tavla
+ ko
+ Be talked to by me
+ Let me talk to you.
+
The cmavo=20
ko can fill any appropriate sumti place, and ca=
n be used as often as is appropriate for the selbri:
-
-
- 14.8) =20
-ko
-kurji
-ko
-
+
+ ko
+ kurji
+ ko
+
and
-
-
- 14.9) =20
-ko
-ko
-kurji
-
+
+ ko
+ ko
+ kurji
+
Take care!example both mean=20
You take care of you
and=20
Be taken care of by you
, or to put it colloquially,=20
Take care of yourself
.
-
+
Questions
questionsquick-tour version There are many kind=
s of questions in Lojban: full explanations appear in=20
- and in various other chapters th=
roughout the book. In this chapter, we will introduce three kinds: sumti qu=
estions, selbri questions, and yes/no questions.
+ and in various=
other chapters throughout the book. In this chapter, we will introduce thr=
ee kinds: sumti questions, selbri questions, and yes/no questions.
=20
=20
ma<=
secondary>quick-tour version sumti questionsquick-tour ver=
sion questionsquick-tour version T=
he cmavo=20
ma is used to create a sumti question: it indic=
ates that the speaker wishes to know the sumti which should be placed at th=
e location of the=20
ma to make the bridi true. It can be translated=
as=20
Who?
or=20
What?
in most cases, but also serves for=20
When?
,=20
Where?
, and=20
Why?
when used in sumti places that express time, locat=
ion, or cause. For example:
-
-
- 15.1) =20
-ma
-tavla
-do
-mi
- Who? talks to-you about-me.
- Who is talking to you about me?
-
+
+ ma
+ tavla
+ do
+ mi
+ Who? talks to-you about-me.
+ Who is talking to you about me?
+
The listener can reply by simply stating a sumti:
-
-
- 15.2) =20
-la djan.
- John (is talking to you about me).
-
+
+ la djan.
+ John (is talking to you about me).
+
Like=20
ko,=20
ma can occur in any position where a sumti is a=
llowed, not just in the first position:
-
-
- 15.3) =20
-do [cu]=20
-tavla
-ma
- You talk to what/whom?
-
+
+ do [cu]=20
+ tavla
+ ma
+ You talk to what/whom?
+
A=20
ma can also appear in multiple sumti positions =
in one sentence, in effect asking several questions at once.
-
-
- 15.4) =20
-ma [cu] =20
-tavla
-ma
- What/Who talks to what/whom?
-
+
+ ma [cu] =20
+ tavla
+ ma
+ What/Who talks to what/whom?
+
separate question=
squick-tour version The two se=
parate=20
ma positions ask two separate questions, and ca=
n therefore be answered with different values in each sumti place.
=20
mo<=
secondary>quick-tour version bridi questionsquick-tour ver=
sion selbri questionsquick-tour version The cmavo=20
mo is the selbri analogue of=20
ma. It asks the respondent to provide a selbri =
that would be a true relation if inserted in place of the=20
mo:
-
-
- 15.5) =20
-do [cu]=20
-mo
- You are-what/do-what?
-
+
+ do [cu]=20
+ mo
+ You are-what/do-what?
+
A=20
mo may be used anywhere a brivla or other selbr=
i might. Keep this in mind for later examples. Unfortunately, by itself,=20
mo is a very non-specific question. The respons=
e to the question in=20
could be:
-
-
- 15.6) =20
-mi [cu]=20
-melbi
- I am beautiful.
-
+
+ mi [cu]=20
+ melbi
+ I am beautiful.
+
or:
-
-
- 15.7) =20
-mi [cu]=20
-tavla
- I talk.
-
+
+ mi [cu]=20
+ tavla
+ I talk.
+
speaker-listener =
cooperation Clearly,=20
mo requires some cooperation between the speake=
r and the respondent to ensure that the right question is being answered. I=
f context doesn't make the question specific enough, the speaker must ask t=
he question more specifically using a more complex construction such as a t=
anru (see=20
- ).
+ ).
It is perfectly permissible for the respondent to fill in other =
unspecified places in responding to a=20
mo question. Thus, the respondent in=20
could have also specified a=
n audience, a topic, and/or a language in the response.
yes/no questions<=
/primary>quick-tour version Finally, we =
must consider questions that can be answered=20
Yes
or=20
No
, such as
@@ -1387,412 +1260,372 @@
Is it true that you are talking to me?
xu<=
secondary>quick-tour version In Lojban we have a wo=
rd that asks precisely that question in precisely the same way. The cmavo=
=20
xu, when placed in front of a bridi, asks wheth=
er that bridi is true as stated. So
-
-
- 15.10) xu =20
-do
-tavla
-mi
- Is-it-true-that you are-talking to-me?
-
+
+ xu =20
+ do
+ tavla
+ mi
+ Is-it-true-that you are-talking to-me?
+
is the Lojban translation of=20
.
affirmative answe=
rquick-tour version go'i with xuquick=
-tour version The answer=20
Yes
may be given by simply restating the bridi without =
the=20
xu question word. Lojban has a shorthand for do=
ing this with the word=20
go'i, mentioned in=20
- . Instead of a negative answ=
er, the bridi may be restated in such a way as to make it true. If this can=
be done by substituting sumti, it may be done with=20
+ . Instead of a negative answer,=
the bridi may be restated in such a way as to make it true. If this can be=
done by substituting sumti, it may be done with=20
=20
go'i as well. For example:
-
-
- 15.11) xu=20
-do
-kanro
- Are you healthy?
+
+ xu=20
+ do
+ kanro
+ Are you healthy?
=20
-
+
healthy=
example can be answered with
-
-
- 15.12)=20
-mi
-kanro
- I am healthy.
+
+ mi
+ kanro
+ I am healthy.
=20
-
+
or
-
-
- 15.13)=20
-go'i
- I am healthy.
+
+ go'i
+ I am healthy.
=20
=20
-
+
-
- (Note that=20
-do to the questioner is=20
-mi to the respondent.)
-
+
+ (Note that=20
+ do to the questioner is=20
+ mi to the respondent.)
+
or
-
-
- 15.14)=20
-le tavla cu=20
-kanro
- The talker is healthy.
+
+ le tavla cu=20
+ kanro
+ The talker is healthy.
=20
-
+
or
-
-
- 15.15)=20
-le tavla cu=20
-go'i
- The talker is healthy.
+
+ le tavla cu=20
+ go'i
+ The talker is healthy.
=20
-
+
nago'iquick-tour version negative answerquick-to=
ur version A general negative answer may be given b=
y=20
=20
na go'i.=20
na may be placed before any selbri (but after t=
he=20
- cu
). It is equivalent to stating=20
+ cu). It is equivalent to stating=20
It is not true that ...
before the bridi. It does not i=
mply that anything else is true or untrue, only that that specific bridi is=
not true. More details on negative statements are available in=20
.
-
+
Indicators
interjectionsquick-tour version attitudinal indicators=
quick-tour version indicatorsquick-tour version Different cultures express emotions and attitudes with a vari=
ety of intonations and gestures that are not usually included in written la=
nguage. Some of these are available in some languages as interjections (i.e=
. Aha!, Oh no!, Ouch!, Aahh!, etc.), but they vary greatly from culture to =
culture.
=20
Lojban has a group of cmavo known as=20
attitudinal indicators
which specifically covers this t=
ype of commentary on spoken statements. They are both written and spoken, b=
ut require no specific intonation or gestures. Grammatically they are very =
simple: one or more attitudinals at the beginning of a bridi apply to the e=
ntire bridi; anywhere else in the bridi they apply to the word immediately =
to the left. For example:
=20
-
-
- 16.1) .ie=20
-mi [cu]=20
-klama
- Agreement! I go.
- Yep! I'll go.
+
+ .ie=20
+ mi [cu]=20
+ klama
+ Agreement! I go.
+ Yep! I'll go.
=20
- =20
-
+ =20
+
-
-
- 16.2) .ei=20
-mi [cu]=20
-klama
- Obligation! I go.
- I should go.
+
+ .ei=20
+ mi [cu]=20
+ klama
+ Obligation! I go.
+ I should go.
=20
- =20
-
+ =20
+
-
-
- 16.3) =20
-mi [cu]=20
-klama
-le melbi .ui [ku]
- I go to the beautiful-thing (and I am happy because it is the beaut=
iful
- thing I'm going to).
-
+
+ mi [cu]=20
+ klama
+ le melbi .ui [ku]
+ I go to the beautiful-thing (and I am happy because it is the beau=
tiful
+ thing I'm going to).
+
UI selma'oquick-tour version but/and equivalence =
metalinguistic wordsquick-tour version discursivesquick-tour vers=
ion Not all indicators indicate attitudes. Discursi=
ves, another group of cmavo with the same grammatical rules as attitudinal =
indicators, allow free expression of certain kinds of commentary about the =
main utterances. Using discursives allows a clear separation of these so-ca=
lled=20
=20
metalinguistic
features from the underlying statements =
and logical structure. By comparison, the English words=20
=20
but
and=20
also
, which discursively indicate contrast or an added =
weight of example, are logically equivalent to=20
and
, which does not have a discursive content. The aver=
age English-speaker does not think about, and may not even realize, the par=
adoxical idea that=20
but
basically means=20
and
.
-
-
- 16.4) =20
-mi [cu]=20
-klama .i=20
-do [cu]=20
-stali
- I go. You stay.
+
+ mi [cu]=20
+ klama .i=20
+ do [cu]=20
+ stali
+ I go. You stay.
=20
- =20
-
+ =20
+
-
-
- 16.5) =20
-mi [cu]=20
-klama .i ji'a=20
+
+ mi [cu]=20
+ klama .i ji'a=20
=20
-do [cu]=20
-stali
- I go. In addition, you stay. (added weight)
+ do [cu]=20
+ stali
+ I go. In addition, you stay. (added weight)
=20
- =20
-
+ =20
+
-
-
- 16.6) =20
-mi [cu]=20
-klama .i ku'i=20
+
+ mi [cu]=20
+ klama .i ku'i=20
=20
-do [cu]=20
-stali
- I go. However, you stay. (contrast)
-
+ do [cu]=20
+ stali
+ I go. However, you stay. (contrast)
+
evidentialsquick-tour version Another group of =
indicators are called=20
evidentials
. Evidentials show the speaker's relationshi=
p to the statement, specifically how the speaker came to make the statement=
. These include=20
=20
=20
za'a (I directly observe the relationship),=20
=20
pe'i (I believe that the relationship holds),=
=20
=20
ru'a (I postulate the relationship), and others=
. Many American Indian languages use this kind of words.
=20
-
-
- 16.7) pe'i=20
+
+ pe'i=20
=20
-do [cu]=20
-melbi
- I opine! You are beautiful.
+ do [cu]=20
+ melbi
+ I opine! You are beautiful.
=20
- =20
-
+ =20
+
-
-
- 16.8) za'a=20
+
+ za'a=20
=20
-do [cu]=20
-melbi
- I directly observe! You are beautiful.
-
+ do [cu]=20
+ melbi
+ I directly observe! You are beautiful.
+
-
+
Tenses
time tensesquick-tour version tensesquick-tour versio=
n In English, every verb is tagged for the grammati=
cal category called tense: past, present, or future. The sentence
-
+
-
- John went to the store
-
+ John went to the store
necessarily happens at some time in the past, whereas
-
+
-
- John is going to the store
-
+ John is going to the store
is necessarily happening right now.
sentencestenselessquick-tour version=
indexterm> The Lojban sentence
-
-
- 17.3) =20
-la djan. [cu]=20
-klama
-le zarci
- John goes/went/will-go to-the store
-
+
+ la djan. [cu]=20
+ klama
+ le zarci
+ John goes/went/will-go to-the store
+
serves as a translation of either=20
or=20
, and of many other possible=
English sentences as well. It is not marked for tense, and can refer to an=
event in the past, the present or the future. This rule does not mean that=
Lojban has no way of representing the time of an event. A close translatio=
n of=20
would be:
-
-
- 17.4) =20
-la djan.
-pu klama
-le zarci
- John [past] goes to-the store
-
+
+ la djan.
+ pu klama
+ le zarci
+ John [past] goes to-the store
+
where the tag=20
pu forces the sentence to refer to a time in th=
e past. Similarly,
-
-
- 17.5) =20
-la djan.
-ca klama
-le zarci
- John [present] goes to-the store
-
+
+ la djan.
+ ca klama
+ le zarci
+ John [present] goes to-the store
+
necessarily refers to the present, because of the tag=20
ca. Tags used in this way always appear at the =
very beginning of the selbri, just after the=20
- cu
, and they may make a=20
- cu
unnecessary, since tags cannot be absorbed into tanr=
u. Such tags serve as an equivalent to English tenses and adverbs. In Lojba=
n, tense information is completely optional. If unspecified, the appropriat=
e tense is picked up from context.
+ cu, and they may make a=20
+ cu unnecessary, since tags cannot be absorbed i=
nto tanru. Such tags serve as an equivalent to English tenses and adverbs. =
In Lojban, tense information is completely optional. If unspecified, the ap=
propriate tense is picked up from context.
=20
space tensesquick-tour version Lojban also exte=
nds the notion of=20
tense
to refer not only to time but to space. The follo=
wing example uses the tag=20
vu to specify that the event it describes happe=
ns far away from the speaker:
-
-
- 17.6) =20
-do
-vu vecnu
-zo'e
- You yonder sell something-unspecified.
-
+
+ do
+ vu vecnu
+ zo'e
+ You yonder sell something-unspecified.
+
In addition, tense tags (either for time or space) can be prefix=
ed to the selbri of a description, producing a tensed sumti:
-
-
- 17.7) =20
-le pu bajra [ku] cu =20
-tavla
- The earlier/former/past runner talked/talks.
-
+
+ le pu bajra [ku] cu =
=20
+ tavla
+ The earlier/former/past runner talked/talks.
+
(Since Lojban tense is optional, we don't know when he or she ta=
lks.)
Tensed sumti with space tags correspond roughly to the English u=
se of=20
this
or=20
that
as adjectives, as in the following example, which =
uses the tag=20
=20
vi meaning=20
nearby
:
-
-
- 17.8) =20
-le vi bajra [ku] cu=20
-tavla
- The nearby runner talks.
- This runner talks.
-
+
+ le vi bajra [ku] cu=20
+ tavla
+ The nearby runner talks.
+ This runner talks.
+
Do not confuse the use of=20
vi in=20
with the cmavo=20
ti, which also means=20
this
, but in the sense of=20
this thing
.
sumti with tenses=
quick-tour version Furthermore=
, a tense tag can appear both on the selbri and within a description, as in=
the following example (where=20
ba is the tag for future time):
-
-
- 17.9) =20
-le vi tavla [ku] cu=20
-ba klama
- The here talker [future] goes.
- The talker who is here will go.
- This talker will go.
-
+
+ le vi tavla [ku] cu=20
+ ba klama
+ The here talker [future] goes.
+ The talker who is here will go.
+ This talker will go.
+
-
+
Lojban grammatical terms
=20
grammatical terms=
quick-tour version Here is a r=
eview of the Lojban grammatical terms used in this chapter, plus some other=
s used throughout this book. Only terms that are themselves Lojban words ar=
e included: there are of course many expressions like=20
=20
indicator
in=20
that are not explained here. S=
ee the Index for further help with these.
bridi:
--=20
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