Projects

["reverendzow" <reverendzow@yahoo.com>]

I came upon Lojban on Wednesday, and I am very happy to see that it 
exists.  It is quite similar to the language I have been 
(incrementally and unsuccessfully) building over the last 10-15 
years, but is much better developed.  There are a few projects I am 
interested in beginning/helping with.

NB:  As the archives of this group are rather large, I have not yet 
combed through them.  I hope my questions aren't the kind of things 
that are asked too frequently.  Also, I don't always know what I'm 
talking about;  proceed accordingly.

First, I am interested in building a (relatively simple) Lojban 
command-line interface with duplicates of some of the basic tools 
found in the GNU suite.  This seems feasible, but I will likely need 
help with some of the grammar and vocabulary.  I think this would be 
an important step in acquiring wider support for Lojban.

I am also interested in initiating (and potentially managing, but 
not -being-) a project to create a unique symbology for Lojban, in 
three parts.  The first part (related, perhaps to Hangeul, Hebrew, 
and Kanji) would represent cmavo (in a purely symbolic fashion).  A 
phonetic alphabet (for cmene and fu'ivla) would be the second part.  
Lastly, a set of ideograms for gismu.  This requires the potential to 
make a simple visual system for making lujvo, else the phonetic 
alphabet could be used for gismu and lujvo as well.  I am very 
curious regarding this potential.  Also, it seems to me that if the 
cmavo lerfu is inviable, the rest of the project is rather pointless.

Additionally, I am finding a need for a schematically defined syntax 
for Lojban.  In attempting to create such a definition, I often come 
across logical constructs which have no Lojban names.  For instance, 
what shall we call words that possess brivla?  I have come up with 
ka'eserafsi, although my construction may be flawed, and a word based 
on fu'ivla may be better.  Similarly, it seems the selma'o are named 
after the most commonly used elemental cmavo, rather than a Lojban 
meaning of their function.

Finally, I see that the Lojban end of the lexicon is entirely 
arbitrary, and I think this is probably good for a couple reasons.  
To clarify:  the definitions of words seem to be well thought out and 
are relatively fixed (esp. the cmavo).  The words being defined, 
however, could be changed, and (if changed properly) with the sole 
consequence of requiring /piji'i lo'i lojban ve tavla do/ to learn 
the new vocabulary.  The reason I think this may be a good thing to 
do is that I doubt sufficient research has been put into the 
worldwide pronuncibility and comprehensibility of the language.  For 
instance, most Japanese have trouble differentiating American L/R, 
and pronouncing our R.  I'm sure there are other examples, but I'm 
only a phoneticist by hobby, and know only scraps of languages.  I 
also think a more optimal fashion of creating the smallest words is 
possible.  Lastly, I wonder wether any consultation of experts in 
computerized voice-recognition has taken place.  Their input on 
viable sounds to include in a language could be invaluable.  The 
point is:  it is quite likely that the vocabulary needs serious 
optimization/reform if widespread adoption of Lojban is to occur.

(A request to anyone who knows more appropriate terms for any of the 
concepts I have used above:  Please give me this information.)