[lojban] Re: antiblotation (was: RE: taksi)

[Jim Carter <jimc@MATH.UCLA.EDU>]

On Wed, 28 May 2003, And Rosta wrote: (shortened by jimc)
> For any place structure:
>
> 1. Draw up a list of candidate places. There will be infinitely many.
> 2. Is it true that X1 is not a broda if it lacks an X2?  Places for
>    which this isn't true should be tossed.
> 3. Toss places easily expressed by other means (e.g. modal phrases).
> 3a. Repair places that fail to match the pattern of related brivla.

Hear, hear!  The more these rules are followed, the easier Lojban will be
to learn and to use.  In natlangs, overly complicated and irregular verbs
are the nemesis of the student, and we can expect the same for our
language.

Item 2 always sets off a furor, so let me clarify *my* position: it's
reasonable to express a negated relation where X1 lacks an X2, provided in
other circumstances the X2 were possible.  Example:

    I wanted to be more drunk, but couldn't, because my bottle lacked
    any X2 (the content).  (Suggesting that at one time it had content,
    which is now inside me.)

But X1 is disqualified if no X2 is possible.  Example (seen in the wild):

    We excavated this site and found pot-like things, but they had holes
    in the bottom.  Why did these people make pots, and then turn them into
    non-pots by putting holes in them, so they couldn't hold content?

(Subsequent speculation: they were flowerpots, which qualify because they
can contain the soil and plant while letting excess water drain out;
if the bottom is soaked, the roots rot.)

James F. Carter          Voice 310 825 2897    FAX 310 206 6673
UCLA-Mathnet;  6115 MSA; 405 Hilgard Ave.; Los Angeles, CA, USA  90095-1555
Email: jimc@math.ucla.edu    http://www.math.ucla.edu/~jimc (q.v. for PGP key)