Re: [lojban] Re: Robin Confused (was Re: Re: "pu" versus "pu ku" and LR(1))

[jcowan@reutershealth.com]

Bob LeChevalier scripsit:

> I'm afraid of loosening the rules too much if not necessary, for fear we 
> will end up with something like the PA string situation and the UI string 
> situation where everything is grammatical but interpretation is potentially 
> a nightmare.  

The trouble is that we're already there.  Since any string of tense
cmavo can be made grammatical in term_83 context by inserting judicious
ku's, which the parser will cheerfully do, all the effort put into
simple_tense_modal_972 and its children was basically pointless.
Those rules are only effective in limited contexts like a description
sumti, so we've created a situation where the rules effectively apply
in some places but not others -- very non-Lojbanic.

> The X-ku Y-ku 
> breakup at least gives an interpretation for odd strings, even if it may 
> not be the one people would like.

No, it just pushes the interpretation question off on what it means to have
multiple tense-ku's in a bridi.  Nothing changes, really.  Does puku ze'aku
mean the same as puze'a, for instance?  Nobody knows.

Tentatively, I would favor a loosening of the grammar (this is a real byfy
change) whereby arbitrary sequences of tense cmavo are permitted in any
context, but only the existing permitted sequences have standard interpretations.
This would preserve most of the Red Book, and would only require a notation
that tense-cmavo sequences other than the known ones do not yet have defined
meanings.

-- 
John Cowan <jcowan@reutershealth.com> www.ccil.org/~cowan  www.reutershealth.com
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