[lojban] Re: dates, controversy, and newbies

[Pierre Abbat <lojban-out@lojban.org>]

On Friday 01 February 2008 21:52, Chris Capel wrote:
> So I've been reading some old arguments on this list (from 2001-9)
> over detri, pi'e, etc. And I find myself in a position of writing
> material that, practically speaking, has to take a position on these
> issues, or else skip that part of the language. Material to teach the
> language to beginners.
>
> I could go with the option of just following LFB, but I really
> hesitate to do so. Using cmene for years, months, and weekdays seems
> so ... inelegant. And has usage settled down on this yet? For the LE
> issue, I had the easy option of following the BPFK proposals, but
> AFAIK date format issues haven't been (and won't be) addressed by the
> BPFK.
>
> I could just pick a side, but given the possible influence I might
> have, that feels like a big overreach. (I feel your pain, Nick.) If
> usage hasn't settled anything yet (and I wouldn't think it has) then
> what should I do? Teach the controversy? Even that option has the
> downside of confusing and discouraging newbies, but perhaps it's not
> avoidable at this stage in Lojban's development.

I suggest teaching two systems for months and weekdays, and {tu'omoi nanca} 
for years ({nanca} can be omitted if it's obvious). For months, {pavma'i} and 
{ianvari} (see [[latmo veldetri]] for complete list), and relegate 
{kanbyma'i} to astrology; for weekdays, {soldei} and {pavdei}. I agree that 
cmene for dates are inelegant.

Lojban isn't the only language with multiple date naming systems. Some 
countries use more than one calendar, and Portuguese at some time used two 
systems of naming weekdays.

Pierre


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