X-Digest-Num: 152 Message-ID: <44114.152.910.959273824@eGroups.com> Date: Sat, 29 May 1999 21:48:33 -0500 From: Steven Belknap Subject: Re: Well... X-Yahoo-Message-Num: 910 Content-Length: 1964 Lines: 45 The vocabulary generating abilities of lojban are quite rich, much more so than natural languages such as English. In alluding to the apparent lack of words, perhaps you are referring to the gismu list, which can be thought of as "word atoms." The "atoms" can be used as words themselves, but can also be combined to form complex metaphors. You can also use words from other languages by adapting them to lojban using a formal recipe for adapting words in other languages to lojban. Technically, you are correct: the current vocabulary of lojban is incomplete. But that can be corrected by creating metaphors using the lojban combining forms. With time, some of the compound lojban words may become familiar metaphors recognized by all in lojbanistan. >From: WorldMaker > >Hello, I'm new here and really intrigued by Lojban. It seems to me that >the major problem is the lack of a sufficient vocabulary... Has anyone >thought about going through Abridged/Pocket Dictionary and making a list >of needed words? What about embarking on larger translation works, for >instance an H. G. Wells or Jules Verne novel? (Both of which should be >public domain). Or even a more relevant translation of computer terms and >manuals (Linux manuals are usually public domain)? > >--WorldMaker-- >(wyrldmaiker?) > >_________________________________________________________ >Do You Yahoo!? >Get your free @yahoo.com address at http://mail.yahoo.com > > >------------------------------------------------------------------------ >Looking for a new hobby? Want to make a new friend? >http://www.onelist.com >Come join one of over 150,000 e-mail communities at ONElist! >------------------------------------------------------------------------ >To unsubscribe, send mail to lojban-unsubscribe@onelist.com Steven Belknap, M.D. Assistant Professor of Clinical Pharmacology and Medicine University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria