Re: [lojban] Re: Alphabet proposal one.

[John E Clifford <clifford-j@sbcglobal.net>]

--- Betsemes <betsemes@gmail.com> wrote:

> I have been following all of this about featural alphabets for Lojban
> with interest, but I'm afraid that as a somehow still a beginner, I'm
> too overwhelmed with the hazards of learning vocabulary to worry on
> learning a new alphabet. It might be interesting and easy to learn,
> maybe, but I tend to think it would be a very low priority in my
> learning schedule.

Well, from my point of view, it is a theoretical exercise with a best very long-term relevance.
The LAatin alphabet is clearly the one to use now in anything but artistic displays for the inner
group (cf. the use of Tengwar).
 
> About cultural neutrality, I think as a non linguist that the position
> of Jorge, Robin and Theodore matches what I would think of cultural
> neutrality, just use any alphabet that suits you best. But this leads
> me to think as a computer programmer in terms of portability. If you
> want to get your message across, you must write in an intelligible
> way, so that your audience can understand you. So, by such a point of
> view, I see the value of having an official alphabet for Lojban.

I don't get the cultural neutrality argument myself.  A Lojban alphabet would presumably be unique
to Lojban culture and that would be its virtue.  For now, the Latin alphabet, however it may be
culturally unneutral (whatever that may mean) is the thing to use (with exceptions noted).

> This leads me to a question. How is the latin alphabet culturally
> biased? Is it just because it comes from languages that comes from
> Latin or is it because some other reason?

Well, the Latin alphabet is used for just about every language there currently is (with local
modifications, mainly as to pronunciation) but it the alphabet of the civilization/culture of
Western Europe and that (derivatively from the dominance of that culture) is why it is so widely
used.  So, I suppose that rejecting it as culturally biased is a step in antiimperialism,