| xorxes' comment that {abu} is not a name by itself struck a chord in my head. In order to use any name referrentially, you have to precede it by {la}. In order to use {abu} to refer to a character, you have to precede it by {me'o}. So the cases is nicely parallel -- see also {pa} as the name of a number needs {li} . But, it turns out that both can follow {la}. So, if we want "names" for letterals or numerals outside of a mathematical context, we have them, too -- in just the right place. |