Return-Path: <@FINHUTC.HUT.FI:LOJBAN@CUVMB.BITNET> Received: from FINHUTC.hut.fi by xiron.pc.helsinki.fi with smtp (Linux Smail3.1.28.1 #1) id m0qx6fx-00006SC; Tue, 18 Oct 94 07:01 EET Message-Id: Received: from FINHUTC.HUT.FI by FINHUTC.hut.fi (IBM VM SMTP V2R2) with BSMTP id 0444; Tue, 18 Oct 94 07:01:42 EET Received: from SEARN.SUNET.SE (NJE origin MAILER@SEARN) by FINHUTC.HUT.FI (LMail V1.1d/1.7f) with BSMTP id 0440; Tue, 18 Oct 1994 07:01:28 +0200 Received: from SEARN.SUNET.SE (NJE origin LISTSERV@SEARN) by SEARN.SUNET.SE (LMail V1.2a/1.8a) with BSMTP id 4366; Tue, 18 Oct 1994 05:55:53 +0100 Date: Mon, 17 Oct 1994 21:09:57 -0700 Reply-To: Gerald Koenig Sender: Lojban list From: Gerald Koenig Subject: "any" X-To: lojban@cuvmb.cc.columbia.edu To: Veijo Vilva Content-Length: 2491 Lines: 70 The Webster definition of "any" is: 1. one or some indiscriminately of whatever kind. a. one or another taken at random b. every--used to indicate one selected without restriction 2. one, some, or all indiscriminately of whatever quantity. a. one or more b. all 3. a unmeasured or unlimited in amount,number, or extent. b. appreciably large or extended. Previously I suggested that "any x" should translate to: (quantifier) typical random (x). This post is an attempt to embody some of the dictionary meanings above, and to deal with the multifarious problems pointed out by John Clifford. I have as yet no idea what these suggestions would mean for resolving the many scope ambiguities of "any" in Englsh. Nor do I know if the grammar here explored would work. Predicate calculus quantifiers lojban comments All (x) ro true quantifier Some E(x) su'o true quantifier Iota I(x) lo pa * the (one) x (term) S_any Alpha(x) * l'alfa * singular "any"(term) P_any Sigma(x) * s'ma * plural"any"quantifier True quantifiers should have grammar of PA4. Terms should have grammar of LA. Sigma(x) should have grammar of PA4. The stars indicate new ideas for discussion. Pardon my ungrammatical new word spellings. Examples: ro da zo'u tu'e da plise inaja mi cidja da I eat all the apples. (They may or may not exist). su'o da zo'u tu'e da plise inaja mi cidja da I eat some apples. (They exist). lo pa da zo'u tu'e da plise inaja mi cidja da I eat the apple. (only one specific apple, it could be named Munchkin.) l'alfa da zo'u tu'e da plise inaja mi cidja da I eat any apple. (only one random apple, it could be named Crunchkin) l'sma da zo'u tu'e da plise inaja me cidja da I eat any apples. (subject to the built-in restrictions on "any") These are of course too stilted for practical use. But maybe the following forms would work: mi cidja ro lo plise mi cidja su'o lo plise mi cidja lo pa plise mi cidja l'alfa lo plise mi cidja l'sma lo plise These are all meant to have the same meaning as the corresponding examples above. If there is any value in these ideas, they should be harmonized with the ideas put forth by .And on the question of existence in quantifiers. I'm not sure I dealt with "any" as "all" either but that's it for today. djer