Re: [lojban-beginners] Question about {roda}

[Pierre Abbat <phma@phma.optus.nu>]

On Thursday 17 February 2011 15:58:43 .arpis. wrote:
> I was aware that {roda} isn't restricted to people or physical objects, but
> it's difficult to express that in English.
>
> It's interesting that you refer to a "universe of discourse".  Not having
> any strong background in linguistics, philosophy, or logic, I don't know
> what precisely this means, but it seems like it's what I'm thinking about.
>
> In English, when I say "Everyone's going home.", I am first of all probably
> exaggerating but second of all I really mean "Everyone [of the set who
> isn't me in the relevant location] is going home".  It's like I said "roda
> [poi co'e] cu cliva".
>
> Does the universe of discourse always consist of all things that can
> possibly be talked about?

No. Suppose five people meet at my house and we discuss computers and also 
mention each other. As the conversation winds down, I say "ro da cu 
zdakla". "ro da" refers to both computers and the five of us, but does not 
include the planet Saturn or a unicorn. I could say "ro zo'e cu zdakla", 
leaving it up to the listener to grice what "zo'e" refers to.

Pierre
-- 
Don't buy a French car in Holland. It may be a citroen.

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