Well, I think it's completely pointless to try to make a one-to-one correspondence between any two languages. They view the world differently. So I don't think there's a "need" to have something just because Ithkuil or English has it. That being said, I've interspersed my thoughts below. -- gejyspa
On Mon, Jan 30, 2012 at 12:04 AM, gleki
<gleki.is.my.name@gmail.com> wrote:
I'm reading The Ithkuil Grammar these days and comparing Ithkuil roots, prefixes, suffixes and affixes with Lojban all the time.
Here is an extract from the book that deals with BIAS suffixes. Their meaning is like of selma'o UI.
Below are numbered paragraphs (in the form of 5.11.1.??), abbreviation of each suffix (e.g., ASU), it's short name (e.g., ASSURATIVE) and it's full translation with examples.
What I suggest is to find correct cmavo translations to each BIAS suffix.
5.11.1.1
ASU
ASSURATIVE
This bias indicates certainty or self-assurance on the part of the speaker, translatable by such phrases as ‘of course,’ ‘after all,’ or ‘needless to say.’ The intensive form adds a sort of self-righteousness quality conveyed by I told you so! or You see?!
ju'o
5.11.1.2
HPB
HYPERBOLIC
This bias imparts a sense of hyperbole and exaggeration, captured in such colloquial expressions as a prolonged ‘so’ or ‘totally’ as in I so don’t care! or That is totally not what I wanted. The intensive form adds a sense of “one-upmanship” as conveyed by the _expression_ That’s nothing, wait till you hear this!
ba'u
5.11.1.3
COI
COINCIDENTAL
This bias conveys a sense of coincidence or happenstance as conveyed by the use of ‘happen’ in I happened to run into Jane or It just so happens that I’m busy. The intensive form adds a sense of serendipity, as conveyed by expressions such as ‘as luck would have it,’ ‘luckily’ or ‘fortunately.’
The experimental cmavo fu'au
5.11.1.4
ACP
ACCEPTIVE
This bias indicates a sense of general acceptance, as conveyed by the _expression_ ‘it’s just as well that.’ The intensive form conveys resignation to fate, as expressed by phrases such as ‘like it or not’ or ‘…and there’s nothing to be done about it!’
5.11.1.5
RAC
REACTIVE
This bias indicates surprise, as conveyed by phrases such as ‘my goodness!’ or ‘it’s surprising that.’ The intensive form raises this sense to the level of astonishment, as expressed by ‘Wow!’ or ‘Amazing!’
.ue
5.11.1.6
STU
STUPEFACTIVE
This bias indicates a mild sense of wonder or reflection, as conveyed by the phrase ‘it’s a wonder that’ as in It’s a wonder he didn’t break a bone in that fall. The intensive raises this sense to one of awe, as conveyed by expressions such as ‘Well I’ll be!’ or ‘Who would’ve thought….’
u'e
5.11.1.7
CTV
CONTEMPLATIVE
This bias expresses puzzlement, as conveyed by phrases such as ‘I wonder how…,’ ‘that’s odd…,’ ‘I don’t get it…,’ or a quizzical ‘hmmmm.’ The intensive form raises this sense to sudden bewilderment, as in ‘Huh? What do you mean…?’
uanai
5.11.1.8
DPV
DESPERATIVE
This bias conveys a sense of dread or the conveyance of bad news, as expressed by ‘I don’t know how to say this, but…’ or ‘I’m afraid that….’ The intensive form raises this to the level of outright despair, as in ‘Oh, God…’ or ‘Oh, no!….’
a'onai
5.11.1.9
RVL
REVELATIVE
This bias expresses a sense of discovery, as conveyed by expressions such as ‘No wonder….’ or ‘So that’s why….’ The intensive form raises this to a sense of surprised revelation, as in ‘Aha!….’ or ‘Well, well, well!….’
.ua
5.11.1.10
GRT
GRATIFICATIVE
This bias conveys a sense of pleasantness or mild pleasure, as conveyed by expressions such as ‘It’s pleasant to…’ or ‘I like to….’ The intensive raises this to a state of bliss or rapture, as in ‘Oh, there’s nothing like….’ or ‘(Sigh) What bliss it is to….’
.ui or .o'u
5.11.1.11
SOL
SOLICITIVE
This bias expresses the Ithkuil equivalent of English ‘please.’ In its intensive form, this transforms into an impatient demand, expressed in ‘C’mon!,’ ‘What’re you waiting for?’ or the phrase ‘so…already!’ as in the sentence So dance already!
e'o
5.11.1.12
SEL
SELECTIVE
This bias conveys the idea of subjective interpretation, as seen in expressions such as ‘Look at it this way…,’ ‘As I see it,…,’ ‘Subjectively speaking,…,’ or ‘From one point of view,….’ In its intensive form, it conveys a narrow, singleminded interpretation, as conveyed by expressions such as ‘It can only mean one thing…,’ ‘and that’s that!’ ‘and that’s all there is to it!’ or ‘There’s no two ways about it,….’
ju'a or ca'e
5.11.1.13
IRO
IRONIC
This bias conveys a sense of understatement, as conveyed in many subtle ways in English such as tone of voice or deliberately undramatic word choices. In its intensive form, this sense is raised to that of blatant irony, as when saying ‘Well! That was fun!’ after an unpleasant or harrowing experience.
je'unai
5.11.1.14
EXA
EXASPERATIVE
This bias conveys a sense of impatient exasperation, as conveyed by expressions such as ‘Look, don’t you get it?…’ or ‘Look, I’m trying to tell you….’ In its intensive form, this bias conveys a sense of outright mockery, as expressed by a mocking tone of voice in English, or by an deliberate, exasperated echolalia, i.e., the repeating of a person’s words back at them in contempt.
.o'onairu'e
5.11.1.15
LTL
LITERAL
This bias underscores a distinction between context and literalness, expressed by the English phrases ‘technically speaking’ or ‘Context aside for a moment,…’ as in Technically speaking, that’s not a polka (i.e., it’s a polka version of a non-polka song). In the intensive form, this bias conveys a sense of total literalness and exactitude, expressed in English by phrases such as ‘strictly speaking’ or ‘to put it in clinical terms….’ as in Strictly speaking, that’s not a polka (i.e., its rhythm is not that of a true polka).
sa'e
5.11.1.16
CRR
CORRECTIVE
This bias indicates a correction on the part of the speaker, as expressed in English by ‘that is to say…,’ ‘What I mean(t) to say is…’ or ‘I mean….’ The intensive form indicates a sense of subjective equivalence, as expressed in English by ‘in a manner of speaking,’ ‘so to speak,’ or ‘for all intents and purposes.’
si/sa/su group
5.11.1.17
EUP
EUPHEMISTIC
This bias indicates a rephrasing or substitution of wording for means of clarification, as expressed in English by ‘in other words…’ or ‘to put it more exactly….’ The intensive form conveys a sense of outright euphemism, as expressed in English by phrases such as ‘Let’s just say that….’ or ‘Well, let me put it this way….’
va'i
5.11.1.18
SKP
SKEPTICAL
This bias conveys a sense of skepticism, as expressed in English by ‘It’s (a little) hard to believe that….” The intensive form raises this sense to that of outright incredulity, as in a derisive ‘Oh, yeah! Suuuure!’ or a sneering ‘Yeah, right!’
.iacu'i
5.11.1.19
CYN
CYNICAL
This bias conveys a sense of incredulous unexpectedness or cynical surprise, as in “You mean to tell me…?’ or ‘You gotta be kidding me, ….’ The intensive form shifts this to outright sarcasm upon the discovery, as in ‘So! You just had to go and…’ or ‘Well, wouldn’t you know it, …’ or ‘Oh, nice!….’
.ianai
5.11.1.20
CTP
CONTEMPTIVE
This bias expresses simple disapproval, as conveyed by phrases such as “I don’t like the fact that…’ or ‘It bothers me that….’ The intensive form raises this to all-out contempt or disgust, as conveyed by ‘Shit!’ or ‘What nonsense!’ or ‘What bullshit!’
.i'anai
5.11.1.21
DSM
DISMISSIVE
This bias conveys a sense of downplaying or lowering of expectations, as expressed in English by “sorry, but…’ or ‘It’s nothing. It’s just…” as in It’s just a small cut or Sorry, but it’s only the mailman. The intensive form expresses outright dismissal or insignificance, as conveyed by such expressions as ‘Is that it?’ ‘Big deal!’ or ‘So what!?’
ga'inai, possibly?
5.11.1.22
IDG
INDIGNATIVE
This bias conveys a sense of second-guessing, as expressed in English by ‘I’m sorry, what did you say?’ or ‘Say again? You want me to what?’ or ‘I beg your pardon?’ The intensive form shifts this sense to outright indignation, as conveyed by expressions such as ‘The nerve!’ or ‘How dare…!?”
je'enai or ke'o or perhaps ki'a
5.11.1.23
SGS
SUGGESTIVE
This bias conveys the sense of suggestiveness conveyed in English by such phrases as ‘what if…’ or ‘It could be that….’ The intensive form shifts this to a sense of a formal suggestion or proposition, as in ‘Consider this: …’ or ‘Posit the following: …’ or ‘Assume for the sake of argument that….’
da'i
5.11.1.24
PPV
PROPOSITIVE
This bias expresses a proposal or suggested activity, as conveyed by English phrases such as ‘How about,’ ‘We could,’ or general suggestions, as in the sentences How about going for a stroll?, We could meet the clowns behind the barn if you want, or You can sit on my lap. The intensive form turns this into an ultimatum, as conveyed in English by phrases such as ‘take it or leave it,’ ‘this is your last chance,’ or ‘it’s now or never.’
da'i xu
--gejyspa