Message-Id: <m0rn3HW-00007cC@xiron.pc.helsinki.fi>
Date:         Fri, 10 Mar 1995 08:38:13 MET
Reply-To:     Goran Topic <topic@MATH.HR>
Sender:       Lojban list <LOJBAN%CUVMB.bitnet@FINHUTC.hut.fi>
From:         Goran Topic <topic@MATH.HR>
Subject:      Re: indirect commands?
To:           Veijo Vilva <veion@XIRON.PC.HELSINKI.FI>
Content-Length: 1303
Lines: 32

> >Huh? What has Russian got to do with this? .gy.
>
> The question came up when I was studying the use of the particle "pust'"
> which used in a sentence makes it a "3rd person imperative".  e.g.
> pust' deti igrayut
> Let the children play.
>
> I had previously interpreted "pust'" as "Allow the children to play".
> But there were a couple examples in the book I was studying where it was
> clear that the intent was for the listener to relay the command, or
> otherwise take more active measures than English "allow" suggests.
>
> lojbab

.i seva'u la lojbab. mi spuda ri bau la gliban

You're right. The same word is in Croatian "neka" ("Neka se djeca igraju")
and in English "Let". The sentence you gave ("Let the children play") is
direct English translation due to the fact that grammar concerning 3rd
person imperatives is same. Perhaps it is because you are native English
speaker that you did not recognise this in your language and turned to
Russian to explore it, perhaps not... :) Here, "let" does not mean "allow",
I believe.

Ambiguity. Universally guilty.
Scalp the ambiguity, communicate in lojban. :)

co'o mi'e. goran.

--
Learn languages! The more langs you know, the more incomprehensible you can get
e'udoCILreleiBANgu.izo'ozo'onairoBANguteDJUnobedocubanRI'a.ailekadonaka'eSELjmi