From lojban@cuvmb.bitnet Tue Nov 12 00:12:02 1996 Received: from punt-4.mail.demon.net by stryx.demon.co.uk with SMTP id AA16683 ; Tue, 12 Nov 96 00:11:52 GMT Received: from punt-4.mail.demon.net by mailstore for ia@stryx.demon.co.uk id 847494165:19558:12; Fri, 08 Nov 96 23:02:45 GMT Received: from cunyvm.cuny.edu ([128.228.1.2]) by punt-4.mail.demon.net id ab19268; 8 Nov 96 23:01 GMT Received: from CUVMB.CC.COLUMBIA.EDU by CUNYVM.CUNY.EDU (IBM VM SMTP V2R3) with BSMTP id 4007; Fri, 08 Nov 96 17:59:23 EST Received: from CUVMB.COLUMBIA.EDU by CUVMB.CC.COLUMBIA.EDU (Mailer R2.07) with BSMTP id 6648; Fri, 08 Nov 96 17:59:01 EDT Date: Fri, 8 Nov 1996 15:59:18 -0700 Reply-To: Chris A Bogart Sender: Lojban list From: Chris A Bogart Subject: Re: JBO: CONLANG: Conlang Travelers's Phrasebook X-To: lojban%cuvmb.bitnet@mitvma.mit.edu To: Multiple recipients of list LOJBAN In-Reply-To: <199611081741.KAA05783@indra.com> Message-ID: <847494101.19268.0@cunyvm.cuny.edu> Status: R The phrasebook is a great idea! I have a few nitpicks, though... On Fri, 8 Nov 1996, Don Wiggins wrote: > > 2. How are you? (or similar greeting question) > .i do mo > You what-predication? How people use vague questions like this will probably end up being a matter of usage. Something like "xu do gleki" or something might work too??? > > 7. Where is... > .i ... zvati ma > ... at where? > > > a. the bathroom (WC/toilet/human waste collection center)? > lo vimku'a > the excretion-room For these to work you'll need either "cu" before "zvati" or "ku" after each of the alternatives, otherwise you'll get "lo vimku'a zvati ma", in which "vimku'a zvati" forms a tanru, and the sentence no verb. > > 8. I'm sorry. > .i .u'u > Repentance! Hmmm... again a matter of usage, but I would think of "u'u" as being more like "oops" -- repentent without necessarly apologizing. Maybe "ga'inai .u'u" or just "xenru"?? > > 12. I don't speak [language X] very well. > .i mi na certu lenu tavla folo jbobau > I not expert the-event-of talking in the Lojbanic-language Alternatively, "mi na certu se jbobau" or even "mi na certu lojbo". DOn't forget to use places that don't have English equivalents! > > 14. Speak more slowly please. > .i e'o do masno tavla > Request! you slowly talk The "do" could be optional, since it would be clear in context. My own lojban style tends to avoid pronouns. > > 22. Our customs are very different from yours. > .i lo tcaci be mi'a lo tcaci be do frica mutce > The customs of us the customs of you differ much Or, "mi'a do frica mutce lo tcaci" co'o mi'e kris cbogart@quetzal.com