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[lojban] Omission of "Subjects"
{I am} __re-reading_David_R._Palmer's_novel_Emergence__.
__Contemplating_writing_style_used_by__main_first-person_
_character__.
No need to worry about spoilers in the quotes that I have used:
all quotes from early part of novel.
__Will_let_her_explain_sentence_structure_and_basic_
_situation__. I have added the material in braces and brackets
in the quotes to clarify meaning in a few cases because I have
dropped other clarifying context at times, and I have added the
"underlining" for reasons to be explained later, but the
parenthetical remarks are in the original.
{This} __explains_language_usage__:
... One thing certain: Sentence structure
throughout will have English teachers spinning in
graves (those fortunate to have one).
English 60 percent flab, null symbols, waste.
__Suspect_massive_inefficiency_stems_from_
_subconsciously_recognized_need_to_stall__,
__give_inferior_intellects_chance_to_collect_
_thoughts_into_semblance_of_coherence__ (usually
without success), and to show off (my
twelve-dollar-word can lick your
ten-dollar-word). __Will_not_adhere_to_
_precedent__; __makes_little_sense_to_write_
_shorthand__ [ed: {one is supposed to} assume
that book translated from shorthand], then cancel
advantage by employment of rambling academese.
__Keep_getting_sidetracked_into_social_
_criticism__. Probably symptom of condition.
Stupid; all evidence says no society left.
__Explains situation__:
Daddy convinced that Man's highest achievements
not vanish in Fireworks [ed: WW III], also
positive same just around corner. (Confession:
__Wondered_sometimes_if_playing_with_complete_
_deck__; __spent incalculable_sums_on_shelter_and_
_contents__. __Turns_out_was_right__; __is_
_probably_having_last_laugh_Somewhere__
[ed: "Somewhere" reference to afterlife.
__missing_from_shelter__ because {was}
__away_from_town_on_business_trip_when_surprise_
_attack_happened__]. __Wish_were_here_to_needle_
_me_about_it__ -- but __wouldn't_if_could__;
__was_too_nice__. __Miss_him__. Very much.)
{Here are} two more quotes:
{I} __was_born_11_years_ago_in_small_Wisconsin_
_town__, only child of normal parents. __Named_
_Candidia_Maria_Smith__; __reduced_to_Candy_
_before_ink_dried_on_certificate__. Early
indications of atypicality: Eyes focused, tracked
at birth: cause-effect association evident by six
weeks, first words at four months, sentences at
six months.
__Orphaned_at_ten_months__. __Parents_killed_in_
_car_accident__.
No relatives -- __created_dilemma_for_
_baby-sitter__. __Solved_when_social_worker_took_
_charge__. __Was_awfully_cute_baby__; __adopted_
_in_record_time__.
...
__Earned_way_through__ {karate classes}.
__Devoted_great_effort_to_maintaining_favored_
_status__; __achieved_Black_Belt_in_ten_months__,
state championship (for age/weight group) six
months later. __Was_considered_probable_national_
_championship_material,_possibly_world__.
Enjoyed; great fun, terrific physical
conditioning, obvious potential value (ask Filthy
Four [ed: group who made mistake of attacking her
teacher shortly after first moved into town]),
good for ego due to adulation over
ever-lengthening string of successes, capture of
state loving cup (ironic misnomer -- contest was
mock combat: __"killed"_seven_opponents__,
__"maimed"_22_others_for_life_or_longer__).
{I} __noticed_feature_of_"underlined"_expressions__:
__missing_explicit_subject,_even_though_in_English_it_would_be_
_(highly)_unusual/forbidden_for_subject_to_be__omitted__.
__Know_that_Lojban_bridi_without_x1_place_have_been_described_
_as_observatives__, but __wondering_if_omitting__x1_is_really_
_different_from_omitting_other_places__. If not, then is there
any problem with using Lojban analogues of structure of
"underlined" phrases because __considering_doing_so__. __Seems_
_like_good_application_of_being_permitted_to_omit_unneeded_
_information__,_such_as_already_encouraged_for_tense_and_number__.
{You} __have_probably_already_noticed_that_attempted_to_
duplicate_style_in_this_message__. However, use of braces in
own text suggests occasional "subjects" that __might_feel_the_
_need_to_include_in_Lojban_version_of_this_document__. __Have_
_not_used_all_Candy-style_elisions_that_came_to_mind__; some
would have induce additional distortions of English grammar
that might obscure the main point of skipping "subjects_.
__Know_that_Lojban_is_not_compression_system__. __Actually_
_have_preference_for_"lo_broda_pe_mi"_over_"lo_mi_broda"__.
__Seems_less_like_attempt_to_force_English-like_aspect_on_to_
_Lojban__, also __not_unfamiliar_to_me__: __remember_use_of_
_"de"_for_possession_from_long-ago_high-school_Spanish_
_classes__. So some "compressions" will not personally use.
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