Re: [lojban] Re: Intermediate English

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

--- Alex Martini <alexjm@umich.edu> wrote:


> On a side note the comma is especially problematic in English, and  
> probably other languages that use the Latin script. This is because  
> it is used for so many different things. It is used for lists {I sent  
> you a letter, an apple, and a small piano.}. It is also used for for  
> side comments {My brother, over committed as always, couldn't spare  
> the time to help.} which are pretty much the same as relative clauses  
> {The ambassador, who came yesterday, is named John.}. (Although, the  
> comma is only used in {poi} type restrictive relative clauses, not in  
> {noi} or {voi} type).
> 
When I learned this stuff (about Middle English, I suppose), the comma rule for relative clauses
was exactly the opposite (and my punctuation checker still works it that way -- along with the
novel requiring "that" for restrictive relatives).  that is, no commas with restrictive (part of
the description, {poi}), commas required with non-restrictive (additonal information, {noi} etc.)