Re: [lojban] Re: Why linguists might be interested in Lojban (was: RE:Re: a new kind of fundamentalism

[Edward Cherlin <cherlin@pacbell.net>]

On Tuesday 08 October 2002 06:26 pm, Jorge Llambias wrote:
> la robin.tr cusku di'e
>
> >The two Lojbanisms that really caught on amongst the players
> >were "mabla" (correct usage) and "le do mamta cu gerku" (incorrect, in
> >canonical Lojban).
>
> What do you call "correct usage" for {mabla}?
>
> I assume it was used as a swear word, which I agree should
> be correct usage.
>
> But the official definition says it is used to describe a swear
> word, not that it is one. ({zoi gy shit gy mabla}, but not {mabla}
> for "shit!") So it would not constitute correct usage for
> fundamentalists.

It would be as correct as the utterance "Curses!", which was a theatrical 
euphemism, but has passed into common English. Or as incorrect, if you must 
be that way about it.

> mu'o mi'e xorxes

-- 
Edward Cherlin
Generalist
"A knot!" cried Alice. "Oh, do let me help to undo it."
Alice in Wonderland