From cowan@xxxxx.xxxx.xxxx Tue Feb 16 13:54:01 1999 X-Digest-Num: 62 Message-ID: <44114.62.233.959273824@eGroups.com> Date: Tue, 16 Feb 1999 16:54:01 -0500 From: John Cowan a) What the estimate on the number of Lojban speakers worldwide? Hard to say, and it depends on the definition of "speaker". There are probably no truly fluent speakers. Some face-to-face and IRC conversations have been held in Lojban, though. > b) Some technical questions: > > How would I say, "Does anyone talk?" > [mainly, the anyone is my problem] xu da tavla Is-it-the-case-that an-X-exists-who talks? See the chapter on logic. > How would I say, "Who talks to himself?" > I'd think it's `mi tavla mi', but according to the lessons, that would > be, "Who talks, and to whom?" I think you mean "ma" rather than "mi"; "mi tavla mi" is "I talk to myself". Your interpretation of "ma tavla ma" is correct. The simplest way is probably ma tavla ri What-sumti? talks-to [referent of last sumti] Who talks to himself/herself/themselves? > [BTW: Is the book worth buying? I mean, are the lessons on lojban.org > enough?] The version on lojban.org is very close to the final copy, but it's less easy to handle, and if you want a hard copy it's probably cheaper to buy the book than to print it yourself. The binding is library-grade as well as very attractive. Also, buying the book helps support the language! (I don't get any royalties, so I am quite disinterested here.) -- John Cowan http://www.ccil.org/~cowan cowan@ccil.org You tollerday donsk? N. You tolkatiff scowegian? Nn. You spigotty anglease? Nnn. You phonio saxo? Nnnn. Clear all so! 'Tis a Jute.... (Finnegans Wake 16.5)