la durka cu cusku di'e
As for sumti slots in lujvo definitions, I favor the hybrid system (x1=g1=s2 is a thing with ...). It's visually noisy, but it manages to (1) number the places without obliging the reader to count and (2) show the "etymology" of each place, where that is relevant. I consider (1) more important -- perhaps the notes are a better place to say which terjvo came from which veljvo.
I would think so. I prefer the simplest method: just x_n. Not everyone cares about the origin of the lujvo places, and all those letters clutter up the definition and make it look more like math than anything.
What I thought could work is to have an extra field apart from the general notes field that can be used to give information about place structure patterns ("families") and other place structure background. Maybe a good dictionary frontend would allow the user to choose if they want this field to be visible (like a show/hide button). Much like etymology, it's not necessary to know about it, but it can be of value to the interested.
I do think the definitions should be as easy to read as possible, and readable by a layperson.
I talked to some people a while ago, and they told me the definition style scared them off, because it reminded them of math. It wouldn't hurt Lojban to cater to a wider audience (as crazy as that may sound!) by making sure that any person with any background can access it. When giving lessons to non-math/non-programming people I sometimes use unnumbered blanks written by underscores, because the concept of filling in the blanks is easy to grasp and less intimidating than "filling argument places" for certain people. It looks like this:
dunda: ___ gives ___ to ___I'm not saying this should replace the x1,x2,x3 style, but I think it is a good alternative that could be implemented in some potential dictionary interface as an additional option. Everyone should be able to feel comfortable reading the dictionary.
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