Robin Lee Powell wrote:
To keep it simple, just say northern and southern solstice, which probably translates quite easily.Umm, which one? There are two.
Uhm, yes, there are two, and only two. Again, for review (since my last message was probably long and rambling):The northern solstice (borealis) is the solstice of Cancer, the summer solstice in the northern hemisphere and the winter solstice in the southern hemisphere. It is called the northern solstice since the sun is crossing the 23 parallel (Tropic of Cancer) in the northern hemisphere (from a geocentric point of view, granted, but don't argue).
The southern solstice (australis) is the solstice of Capricorn, the winter solstice in the northern hemisphere and the summer solstice in the southern hemisphere. It is called the southern solstice since the sun is crossing the 23 parallel (Tropic of Capricorn) in the southern hemisphere.
As for the equinoxes (since we are on the subject), I've always been baffled by weather reports: "west wind at 2 miles per hour." I am under the impression that that means the wind is coming out of the west, and heading east. Denotation of the equinoxes is probably equally confusing. Perhaps saying northern equinox would mean it is moving from the northern to the southern hemisphere. That particular day would be the fall equinox for the northern hemisphere and the spring equinox for the southern hemisphere. I don't know.
With regards to Lojban, there are gismu (i.e., tcika) which have a sumti to denote frame of reference. That may undermind neutrality, but atleast you can tell everyone which side of the line you are on.
I'm terribly sorry that even my briefest of explainations is anything but brief.
-Travis