Date:         Fri, 21 Aug 1998 01:07:27 -0400
Reply-To:     Joseph Doyle Flenner <jflenner@UMICH.EDU>
Sender:       Lojban list <LOJBAN@CUVMB.BITNET>
From:         Joseph Doyle Flenner <jflenner@UMICH.EDU>
Subject:      Re: A First Words in Lojban
To:           Multiple recipients of list LOJBAN <LOJBAN@CUVMB.BITNET>
In-Reply-To:  <199808210131.VAA16074@nightbreed.rs.itd.umich.edu>
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coi
Since you beat me to the translation, I'll share my comments.  :)
mi ponse le rokci renro .i ko dunda fi mi le do jdini .ija mi ca renro
lo barda rokci le do stedu
Since I'm inexperienced also, mostly I have questions:  Why do you use lo
for "barda rokci" but le for "rokci renro"?  My first try would put lo on
rokci renro just because it's "a" in English, but it could be that you
want to leave open the possibility that you're bluffing on the catapult...
but then, how would you heave what really is a big rock without what is
really a catapult?
My first thought was to translate it as something meaning, roughly "Choose
between giving me your money and having a rock launched at your head."
Is this, then, roughly correct:
.i ko cuxna zi'o lenu do dunda le do ro jdini mi kei ce lenu mi renro lo
barda rokci le do stedu
Choose from the set "The event of you giving all your money to me" and
"The event of me throwing a big rock at your head"
??
This way it seems like you can avoid admitting that there's a good
possibility that you're still going to throw the rock if you get the
money.
I wanted to use cecla for "launch" rather than renro, but it is missing a
place for "at your head."  How can you fit that in there?
Thanks.
Joe

> I'll give it a go...
>
> > Catapultam habeo.  Nisi pecuniam omnem mihi dabis, ad caput tuum saxum
> > immane mittam.
>
>     mi ponse le rokci renro .i ko dunda fi mi le do jdini .ija mi ca
>     renro lo bardi rokci le do stedu
>
> "I possess a rock type-of thrower.  (imperative) You give to me your
> money or I (future) throw some large type-of rock towards your head."
> Or both, in fact; you could still throw the rock even if you were
> given the money. :)