Re: [lojban] names of the elements

[Zefram <zefram@fysh.org>]

I've done an analysis of Pierre's list of element names.  Some of them
are not entirely satisfactory, and I have some suggestions for new names.

overview
--------

I've classified Pierre's element names into these groups:

	0. Lojbanic name is a gismu
	1. English name is based on a proper name, reproduced as a
	   fu'ivla in Lojban
	2. English name is based on a proper name, and the Lojbanic name
	   is original
	3. English name is not based on a proper name, and the Lojbanic
	   name is a fu'ivla
	4. English name is not based on a proper name, and the Lojbanic
	   name has a different etymology
	5. English name is not based on a proper name, and the etymology
	   of the English name is reproduced in Lojban

type 0: H, C, N, O, *Ne, *Na, S, *Cl, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, Ag, Sn, Au, Hg, Pb,
type 1: Be, B, Al, K, Ti, V, Mn, As, Sr, Y, Nb, Pd, Cd, Sb, Ce, Sm, Gd,
        Tb, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu, Hf, Ta, Re, Bi, U, Np, Pl, Cm, Bk, Cf,
        Es, Fm, Md, No, Lr, Rf
type 2: Mg, Pm, Th,
type 3: Sc, Zr, Mo, Ru, Rh, Cs, La, Pr, Nd, Dy, Os, Ir, Pt, Tl, *Po,
        At, Ac, Pa,
type 4: F, Ca, Cr, Br, In, Xe, W,
type 5: He, Li, Si, P, Ar, Co, Ga, *Ge, Se, Kr, Rb, Tc, Te, I, Ba, Eu,
        Rn, Fr, Ra, Am,

My opinion is that names of type 3 should not exist; they should be
replaced by type 5 names.  Also, type 4 names are suspect; some appear
to be mistaken, and should probably be of type 5.  I also encourage the
coining of type 2 names in place of type 1 names, because fu'ivla are
not amenable to lujvo formation.

errors
------

The names of the elements I've identified with "*" in the list above
appear to be outright errors.

Germanium is named {dotyjinme} "German metal", but germanium is
not in fact a metal.  Following the form of name used for the other
metalloids, it should be {dotjicmu} "German element".  Similarly,
polonium {jinmrpoloni} should be {jicmrpoloni}.

The three group names {kliru} (halogen), {navni} (noble gas), and {sodna}
(alkali metal) are each used unmodified to refer to their prototypical
element (Cl, Ne, Na, respectively).  These words thus have a different
place structure from all the other element names, and semantics that
I think make them unsuitable for this use.  Specific names should be
coined for these three elements.  I suggest {ri'okliru} "green halogen"
for Cl and {ninynavni} "new noble gas" for Ne, in each case matching
the English etymology to create a type 5 name.  I suggest {silnysodna}
"salt alkali-metal" for Na, which is a type 2 name.

questionable etymologies
------------------------

Flourine: {li'orkliru} "light halogen" is a good name, but the etymology
suggests {fleklira} "flow halogen".

Calcium: {bogjinme} "bone metal" is a good name.  The English etymology
refers to "lime", for which we have no convenient word.

Chromium: {rogjinme} "shiny metal" is a reasonable name, but the etymology
suggests {skaryjinme} "colour metal".

Bromine: {xunkliru} "red halogen" is a reasonable name, but the etymology
suggests {sumnrkliru} "smell halogen".

Indium: {xinjinme} "Indian metal" looks like a misunderstanding.
The name "indium" comes from the indigo emission line, and has nothing
to do with India.  So I suggest {blanyjinme} "blue metal".

Xenon: {ciznavni} "strange noble gas" is OK but smells of malglico.
{fangynavni} "foreign noble gas" is closer to the English etymology.

Tungsten: {gusyciljinme} "illumination filament metal" is an unnecessary
and somewhat awkward neologism.  "tung sten" is Swedish for "heavy stone",
which would yield {tijro'ijinme}.  If a neologism is preferred, I suggest
{jarjinme} "hard metal", which alludes to more of tungsten's uses.

unnecessary fu'ivla
-------------------

Here are a couple of suggestions for type 5 names to replace type 3 names:

Ruthenium: {rukyjinme} "Russian metal"

Rhodium: {zgujinme} "rose metal"

Caesium: {blanysodna} "blue alkali metal"

Comments please.

-zefram