Re: meaning question

["Bob LeChevalier (lojbab)" <lojbab@xxxxxx.xxxx]

At 02:12 AM 1/30/99 -0500, Steven D. Arnold wrote:
>From: "Steven D. Arnold" <yami@dementian.com>
>
>Thanks for the feedback on my previous post. Some interesting answers.
>
>I have a question about the meaning of gismu "karbi." The gismu list
>defines karbi as:
>
>compare; x1 [observer] compares x2 with x3 in property x4 (ka), determining
>comparison x5 (state)
>
>I do not understand what is meant by "determining comparison." Is this used
>to say which side is greater or less? Or what?

If the comparison is size, then yes, x5 might be "the state of x2 being
greater than x3". But other means of comparing exist, such as set
membership and generality of concept that I think would be expressed
through x5. x5 is whatever relationship is determined between x2 and x3 in
the property x4. That is pretty open ended when talking Lojban properties
(ka abstractions). Thus the result of comparing you and me in this
conversation le ka casnu), is that we are mutual conversants (members of
the mass loi casnu).

But I expect that mostly it will be used for greater/lesser, especially
when there is a subjective component to invoke a need for x1. Otherise you
would just express the relationship "greater" or "lesser".

lojbab