From robin@xxxxxxx.xxx.xxx Mon Dec 27 05:09:37 1999 X-Digest-Num: 322 Message-ID: <44114.322.1757.959273825@eGroups.com> Date: Mon, 27 Dec 1999 15:09:37 +0200 From: Robin Turner > From: Bob LeChevalier-Logical Language Group > > The following was posted to Auxlang mailing list by Paul Bartlett. I have > been trying for months to figure a way to explain why I support the > European Patent usage of Lojban, but have not been willing to commit > significant resources to selling the idea. Besides having a dictionary to > do, that is ... > > This sums up one of my major concerns, as to why Lojban as a community may > not be quite ready for adoption, even if we can show a good and useful > translation of a patent. Maybe people can be looking at what we need to do > in order to be able to promote the use of Lojban other than as a toy or as > a medium of personal expression (both of these are worthwhile in > themselves, but surely are not all that is possible for the language). > [original post cut] Here's my two-pennorth (or two cents) 1. The first priority is to produce a user-friendly basic Lojban course on the web and later in book form. Oh, er, I'm supposed to be doing that, aren't I? Oops. 2. Ditto dictionary. 3. Find a small number of areas where Lojban has a potential area of use / support e.g. patent law, computer science / AI, philosophy etc. Form working groups to promote the language in thoise areas, primiarily by coining the necessary vocabulary. Produce interim specialist dictionaries for these language areas. 4. If and when Lojban starts to gain acceptance in one of these areas, put as much resources as we can into that area. Write, translate, teach. Go for grants, sponsorships etc. Get endorsements from major figures in the field. Obviously the methods we use will depend on the area we're in; with patent law the emphasis would be on precision and proving that Lojban is more suitable for patents than natlangs, while if we were using Lojban within, say, the Linux / Free Software community, the geek factor would be more important (as I pointed out on Auxlang, I mentioned Lojban to one of the Comp.Sci. people here and his response was "You've got unambiguous syntax? Wow, you guys must have really strict scope-marking!"). Having said all this, I'm not in favour of going overboard on the promotion side. Over the top promotion can be counter-productive (as readers of the Auxlang list will know!), and once the language is up to scratch people will naturally "promote" it in the areas they are interested in. co'o mi'e robin.