[lojban-beginners] Re: Re^2: the articles "le" and "lo"

[HeliodoR <exitconsole@gmail.com>]

> coi lo se cinri be la lojban.
>
> [Is this correct? I've tried to greet some of them who are interested in
> lojban. What binds tighter? "se" or "be"?]

 

First the brivla is built up (the {se} is applied),

after that the internal sumti is (are) added (the {be}'s applied).

So You were correct. (And hope I'm so.) :)

 

> Okay, I want to follow your advice. If the lojban sentences in my next
> emails are improvable by the use of {le} please suggest such
> improvements so that I can understand the differences better.

 

IMO understanding the differences should not cause any problem to

someone who speaks English. English uses the articles "a(n)" and "the",

which usually mean the same as {lo} and {le}, respectively.

You've used them quite frequently in the previously quoted paragraph:

"I want to follow your advice"

There's a "the", that is, a {le} 'hidden' here. The indefinite version would

look like "one of your advices". You may, as *anywhere* else, use {lo}

as well, because it's equally true that You'd like to follow "an advice",

but, for here You have a certain thing in mind, You *can* also use {le} in

Lojban. {le} is usually just a possibility. As in the next sentence.
"If the lojban sentences [...]"

You think of "concrete Lojban sentences", so You can choose {le},

though You're also speaking of "some Lojban sentences", of course, so

{lo} is also correct again.

"[...] suggest such improvements [...]"

No concrete object in the speakers mind, thus this sentence will

definitely have {lo} in Lojban.

 

Warning: abstractions (lo nu/ni/ka/za'i/zu'o/...) almost always require

{lo}.

 

a'o mi pu'i sidju do

mi'e darves