From LOJBAN@CUVMB.BITNET  Sat Mar  6 22:45:31 2010
Reply-To: Don Wiggins <dwiggins@BFSEC.BT.CO.UK>
Sender: Lojban list <LOJBAN@CUVMB.BITNET>
Date: Mon Dec 11 11:06:36 1995
From: Don Wiggins <dwiggins@BFSEC.BT.CO.UK>
Subject:      Re: PLI: length vs longness
To: John Cowan <cowan@LOCKE.CCIL.ORG>
Status: OR
X-From-Space-Date: Mon Dec 11 11:06:36 1995
X-From-Space-Address: LOJBAN%CUVMB.BITNET@UBVM.CC.BUFFALO.EDU
Message-ID: <Mmw5E-37ftO.A.vHF.Lu0kLB@chain.digitalkingdom.org>

>       .i ma se nanca le nu do vi xabju

Yes, this is the alternative, but is it not strange that you must specify the
time units when asking?  "How long" has no implication of being minutes or
years in English.

> >     .i ma temci leco'anu do vi xabju le cabna
>
> And how would you answer these questions?

.i mi danfu lu le nanca beli mu li'u

I answer "The thing I describe as year's duration 5".  This is sumti which
fits the "ma" place.

>       .i do vi je ce'u xabju

.i.e'u lu ca le purci be le cabna be'o nanca beli mu li'u

How about "Simultaneous with the preceding-of-now year's duration 5".

co'omi'e dn.