RE: [lojban] Re: Lojban Vs. Esperanto

["Craig" <ragnarok@pobox.com>]

>> Esperanto also seeks to decrease the barrier to entry by taking
>words and
>> grammar from a great number of other languages, all of them Indo-
>European.
>> This makes it somewhat simpler to learn if you are used to Indo-
>European
>> languages.

>I'd hesitate to qualify Esperanto in this way, particularly in light
>of the great success Esperanto has enjoyed in Hungary, China and
>Japan, places where the prevailing language is not Indo-European.

>The lowering of the barrier is accomplished mainly through the highly
>flexible system of affixes.

Although it is similar to IE languages in structure, there are non-IE
aspects, including the affix system to which you refer. Also, Esperanto has
many fewer exceptions to its rules than do most natural languages, which
makes it easier. What I meant was that the IE bias in its grammar and
vocabulary makes it even easier for those who speak a European language.

 -- Craig Daniel

"btw, did I mention i'm a sentient AI?"
 -carbon

ragnarok@pobox.com
teucer@bnomic.org