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Re: [lojban] Re: morphology paper announced
On 2/21/07, Cyril Slobin <slobin@ice.ru> wrote:
{iglu} is handled by rule 2. C. 4) a) 3] of the
brkwords algorithm, while {ciblu} is handled by rule 2. C. 4) b) 5] a]
of that algorithm. If you want another (lengthier) example handled by
the same rule with {iglu}, consider {adjgadja}.
Section 2.C of brkwords.txt begins:
"Now we have a piece which we are sure contains a brivla
(a gismu, a lujvo or a le'avla)."
So you can't really invoke section 2.C to say that {.iglu} is not valid.
If you reach that stage of the algorithm, the string must contain
a brivla.
I'm not sure about the official status of brkword.txt anyway. Regardless of
the small print, the idea of fu'ivla is that any string that follows the
phonotactics of brivla and cannot be confused with cmavo and/or lujvo
is a valid fu'ivla form. If the brkwords algorithm makes {.iglu} invalid, then
there is a problem with the algorithm, not with {.iglu}, which cannot break
into cmavo and/or lujvo.
As far as I have understood PEG morphology papers during the last few
hours, it drastically limits the repertoire of valid syllables - from
potentially infinite to a finite one. Neither CLL no brkwords forbids
consonant clusters (and even initial consonant clusters) of any length.
CLL contradicts itself in some points. For example, in chapter 3 section 6,
it says: "In Lojban, doubled consonants are excluded altogether, and clusters
are limited to two or three members, except in Lojbanized names."
Since there is as yet no complete official specification of the morphology,
I adopted one that made sense to me, but it would be good to reach a
consensus at some point on an official prescription.
I don't think it makes sense to allow "djbgdbgj" while disallowing "kv"
for example, so I adopted a simple rule for which consonant clusters to
allow. Similarly for vowel clusters.
There are only two potentially infinite initial cluster forms: (d[jz])+
and (t[cs])+, but who have decided to forbid them?
I did, on the grounds that it makes no sense to allow inintial "tctctctc"
while disallowing "sb". I think disallowing the affricates from participating
in further clusters makes sense.
And one last question: back in nineties John Cowan suggests that two or
more vowels not forming diphthong are forbidden in brivla (although they
are OK in cmene). PEG morphology treats them as separate syllables. This
one I opine is a good idea and going to correct my syntax plugin in this
direction. But do I understand the intent correctly?
PEG currently does not give any special phonotactics to cmevla, other than
the final consonant. A syllable consists of an onset, a nucleus and a (possibly
zero) coda.
The coda can only be a single consonant. The nucleus is one vowel or one
of the fouur diphthongs ai, au, ei, oi.
The onset may be a single consonant (including . and '), a valid
initial cluster,
or a semi-consonantal i or u.
Since the onset cannot be empty, this limits the vowel clusters allowed. In
particular, things like "aa" or "ae" are then disallowed.
I do think we need to settle on some official rules though.
mu'o mi'e xorxes