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Date: Thu, 21 Jul 2005 19:48:27 -0500
From: Hal Fulton <hal9000@hypermetrics.com>
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To: lojban-beginners@chain.digitalkingdom.org
Subject: [lojban-beginners] Re: A few questions...
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Matt Arnold wrote:
> I've thought about this for quite a while myself and would like very much for it to be developed. The output of {jbofi'e}, although good, is still linear and does very little to communicate non-verbally through graphic design. Ideally, it would offer the option of output of a JPEG of nested boxes representing bridi, selbri, sumti and so forth, with function words fitting into them like sockets or adapters.
> I went partway in that direction in the PDFs that I made of the first 19 pages of the Level 0 Booklet, a project in progress, which typesets and illustrates the diagrams with nested tables.
> http://www.lojban.org/tiki/tiki-download_wiki_attachment.php?attId=89
> However, a great thing would be something representing how a gismu is like a gadget that has up to five sockets in which to plug pronouns or descriptors:
> http://www.nemorathwald.com/lojbantoy.jpg
> You see, now this is helpful and instructive to a newbie for understanding the grammar, in a way that the jbofi'e output is definitely not. The visual idea can be taken much further. For instance, modals would take the shape of a new slot or socket that can be tacked on, which immediately visually teaches what a modal is.

Matt,

Thanks for these comments. We're pretty much in agreement on this matter.

The only thing is that I am used to thinking in terms of the way we used
to do it for English... No, not forcing Lojban into an English mold, that
would be awful. I just mean I'm used to a linear "main branch" with modifiers
branching off from it -- no elaborate boxes or shading.

Of course, I don't yet know enough Lojban to create a system like this.

I'd be tempted to start with a tall vertical bar blocking off the gismu
from the sumti, and shorter bars separating the sumti.

Simple example:  mi klama

            |
     klama  | mi | (zo'e) | (zo'e) | (zo'e) | (zo'e)
     -----------------------------------------------
            |

(This may look wrong unless you are using a monospaced font as I am.)

Of course we have to handle modifiers somehow... not sure about articles
yet.

Example:  le gerku cu batci le nanmu va

            |
      batci | le gerku | le nanmu | (zo'e) | (zo'e)
      ---------------------------------------------
            |            \
            cu            va


Tell me your thoughts on this general approach.


Cheers,
Hal