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[lojban] Projects
I came upon Lojban on Wednesday, and I am very happy to see that it
exists. It is quite similar to the language I have been
(incrementally and unsuccessfully) building over the last 10-15
years, but is much better developed. There are a few projects I am
interested in beginning/helping with.
NB: As the archives of this group are rather large, I have not yet
combed through them. I hope my questions aren't the kind of things
that are asked too frequently. Also, I don't always know what I'm
talking about; proceed accordingly.
First, I am interested in building a (relatively simple) Lojban
command-line interface with duplicates of some of the basic tools
found in the GNU suite. This seems feasible, but I will likely need
help with some of the grammar and vocabulary. I think this would be
an important step in acquiring wider support for Lojban.
I am also interested in initiating (and potentially managing, but
not -being-) a project to create a unique symbology for Lojban, in
three parts. The first part (related, perhaps to Hangeul, Hebrew,
and Kanji) would represent cmavo (in a purely symbolic fashion). A
phonetic alphabet (for cmene and fu'ivla) would be the second part.
Lastly, a set of ideograms for gismu. This requires the potential to
make a simple visual system for making lujvo, else the phonetic
alphabet could be used for gismu and lujvo as well. I am very
curious regarding this potential. Also, it seems to me that if the
cmavo lerfu is inviable, the rest of the project is rather pointless.
Additionally, I am finding a need for a schematically defined syntax
for Lojban. In attempting to create such a definition, I often come
across logical constructs which have no Lojban names. For instance,
what shall we call words that possess brivla? I have come up with
ka'eserafsi, although my construction may be flawed, and a word based
on fu'ivla may be better. Similarly, it seems the selma'o are named
after the most commonly used elemental cmavo, rather than a Lojban
meaning of their function.
Finally, I see that the Lojban end of the lexicon is entirely
arbitrary, and I think this is probably good for a couple reasons.
To clarify: the definitions of words seem to be well thought out and
are relatively fixed (esp. the cmavo). The words being defined,
however, could be changed, and (if changed properly) with the sole
consequence of requiring /piji'i lo'i lojban ve tavla do/ to learn
the new vocabulary. The reason I think this may be a good thing to
do is that I doubt sufficient research has been put into the
worldwide pronuncibility and comprehensibility of the language. For
instance, most Japanese have trouble differentiating American L/R,
and pronouncing our R. I'm sure there are other examples, but I'm
only a phoneticist by hobby, and know only scraps of languages. I
also think a more optimal fashion of creating the smallest words is
possible. Lastly, I wonder wether any consultation of experts in
computerized voice-recognition has taken place. Their input on
viable sounds to include in a language could be invaluable. The
point is: it is quite likely that the vocabulary needs serious
optimization/reform if widespread adoption of Lojban is to occur.
(A request to anyone who knows more appropriate terms for any of the
concepts I have used above: Please give me this information.)
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