Message-Id: <199509251819.OAA05948@locke.ccil.org>
Date:         Mon, 25 Sep 1995 13:56:18 EDT
Reply-To: jorge@PHYAST.PITT.EDU
Sender: Lojban list <LOJBAN@CUVMB.BITNET>
From: jorge@PHYAST.PITT.EDU
Subject:      Re: translation exercises:1
To: John Cowan <cowan@LOCKE.CCIL.ORG>
Status: OR

la dn cusku di'e

> > d.  Amethyst is a valuable stone.
> .i le jmerametista ku cu kargu kunra
> {If one does not know a word is it legitimate to make up a le'avla on the fly.

Supposedly yes, but would everybody who knows what an amethyst is understand
the word "ametist"? I.e. is that or something similar the common name for
the stone in all languages?

Besides, it is a good idea when making up fuhivla (lehavla) to follow
the more stringent rules. Yours could break into {jmera me tista}, although
it wouldn't if {jme} is not stressed. The more conventional form
would be {jemnrxametista}.

> What about using zircanjme (purple sand/silica gem)?}

I like it much more. Or even {zirjme}. Are there many purple gems?

I would also use {lo'e} instead of {le}, unless you are talking
of a particular stone, saying something like "this amethyst is very
valuable".

> > e.  Turn the screw to the left.
> .i ko cu cargau le klupe ku fo *le ma'u farna ku
> {How does one say in the positive direction?}

I think {ma'u} and {ni'u} should be assigned rafsi. I remember this
being needed before, but I'm not sure about what, maybe positive and
negative electric charge.

The only way I can think of getting something like "positive" and
"negative" with gismu is {toldukti} and {dukti}.

> > c.  la makdonaldz. cu gusta le festi ku
> McDonalds' is a restaurant serving waste.
> {I do not think that this has negative connotations.  I could interpret this
> as the McDonalds' chain are going ecological and serve offal to eco-minded
> customers.  "malfesti" would be good for the derogatory sense.}

Good point. It would have to be in a fictional world though, for that
interpretation to make any sense... :)

> > e.  doi marca. .i me do cu prami
> Marsha, something pertaining to you loves.
> {OK, I know "me" should be "mi", but you are saying Marsha has an aspect of
> love}

Actually {i me do cu prami} is not grammatical, since there can't be two
selbri in the same bridi.

Jorge