From LOJBAN@CUVMB.BITNET  Sat Mar  6 22:46:12 2010
Reply-To: "Robert J. Chassell" <bob@GNU.AI.MIT.EDU>
Sender: Lojban list <LOJBAN@CUVMB.BITNET>
Date: Wed Dec 27 13:42:22 1995
From: "Robert J. Chassell" <bob@GNU.AI.MIT.EDU>
Subject:      `about to leave' using {za'o}
X-To:         lojban@cuvmb.cc.columbia.edu, bob@rattlesnake.com
To: John Cowan <cowan@LOCKE.CCIL.ORG>
Status: OR
X-From-Space-Date: Wed Dec 27 13:42:22 1995
X-From-Space-Address: LOJBAN%CUVMB.BITNET@UBVM.CC.BUFFALO.EDU
Message-ID: <a7YLOf2D_rP.A._9F.0u0kLB@chain.digitalkingdom.org>

Someone translated:

    He was already about to leave at 11:00

using {za'o}:

>       .i ko'a za'o pu'o cliva ca li papapi'e

I translate this as:

        He is continuing beyond the natural end of being
        in the inchoative state of departing at a
        time contemporary with the number 11.

At first I didn't see this, but now I do.  He is "about to leave" means
he has not left yet; the "already" means he is past the time.  But he
is not actually past the event of being in the inchoative state, so
{za'o} it is.

A query: should the order be {za'o pu'o} or {pu'o za'o}?


    za'o      ZAhO  superfective
                  interval event contour: continuing too long after
                  natural end of ...; superfective | ---->

    pu'o      ZAhO  anticipative
                  interval event contour: in anticipation of ...; until
                  ... ; inchoative ----| |

    x1 leaves/goes away/departs/parts/separates from x2 via route x3
    /:/ [also: x1 leaves behind/takes leave of x2]
    /=/ cliva (liv li'a)