Re: [lojban] observatives (was RE: a construal of lo'e & le'e

["Robert J. Chassell" <bob@RATTLESNAKE.COM>]

   # Of course the bottom line is that in TLI Loglan there was an
   # explicit debate between interpreting a bare predicate as a
   # command or an observative ("Fire!" said to soldiers of an
   # execution squad, vs. on seeing smoke and flame).  JCB chose one
   # way; we reversed that decision.

   I don't see why you didn't go for a third option, that of having no
   special rules (or "conventions") for bare predicates in main bridi.

I don't know the history, but I like the observative.  It fits with
the way I learn basic vocabulary.  Someone points to a creature and
observes:  {mlatu}   I understand and eventually remember the
connection between what I saw and the word.

All `concrete' notions are items that can be pointed to or mimed
(using visual, sound, smell, touch, or taste senses).  These are what
observatives `observe'.  The rest of language is built on metaphors
based on these words.

-- 
    Robert J. Chassell                  bob@rattlesnake.com
    Rattlesnake Enterprises             http://www.rattlesnake.com