Jorge Llambías wrote:
I am quite against such idea. Even if all the languages use the same (or similar) words both for describing numerical and geometrical roundness, it will not be a reason to use cukla namcu, because such suggestion will be against of ideas of Lojban. {cukla namcu} should mean "number of round/circular type". For me, it sounds like another name for {pai}, (3.141529...), number, that is definitely much more related to circles, than 0,10,20,....There are two related meanings of "round numbers", neither of which has anything to do with round wheels: 1. Replace numbers with the closest multiples of some number.It seems to me that {cukla namcu} is the best choice. Even though these numbers are not round in the same way that wheels are round, "round" is not just accidental homonymy here. (I suppose the metaphor is something like the numbers are filled out or their edges softened so that they become simpler.) What are round numbers called in Chinese, or in Swahili, or in Quechua, for example? If they all use the same word they use for wheels, then it would seem Lojban should do that too. If not, then there might be an argument for having a specialized term in Lojban.
My proposal for "round number" is pilji be li panoEwww, that's 2 syllables longer than {cukla namcu}. But it much more reflects the nature of round number, doesn't it?
Anyways, do not take my proposal too seriously. I am still a beginner, eternal beginner.
To unsubscribe from this list, send mail to lojban-list-request@lojban.org with the subject unsubscribe, or go to http://www.lojban.org/lsg2/, or if you're really stuck, send mail to secretary@lojban.org for help.