Lojban/Vocatives

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jbovla  English word   -cu'i                  -nai                     Corresponding brivla
coi    greetings
do'u   (terminates vocative)
doi    (vocative director)
co'o   partings/See you later
ju'i   attention/Hey!  at ease                 ignore me/us            [jundi]
nu'e   promise         release promise         non-promise             [nupre]
ta'a   interruption/Excuse me, but...                                  [tavla]
pe'u   request                                                         [cpedu]
ki'e   appreciation                            disappreciation         [ckire]
       gratitude                               ingratitude
fi'i   welcome/How may I help you?             unwelcome               [friti]
       offering/French: bienvenue              inhospitality
be'e   request to send                                                 [benji]
       "Hello, are you there?"
re'i   ready to receive                        not ready               [bredi]
       (telephone) "Hello?"
mu'o   completion of utterance                 more to follow          [mulno]
       Over!  Temporary, closer
je'e   successful/Roger/Uh-uh                  unsuccessful            [jimpe]
       receipt                                 no receipt/Please repeat/"Beg your pardon?"
vi'o   will comply                             will not comply
ke'o   please repeat                           no repeat needed        [krefu]
fe'o   end of communicationOver and out!       not done                [fanmo]
       (use at the end of an e-mail iff not expecting a response)
mi'e   self-identification/I am...             non-identification      [mi]

Since {ki'e} means approximately "Thank you," it might seem appropriate to respond by saying {fi'i} because English speakers would say "You're welcome." However is used {fi'i} as an invitation, in order to respond {je'e} should be used.

{coi co'o} means "Greetings in passing." English speakers generally just say "Hi."

[edit] Exercises

In Exercises 1-7, give the most suitable Lojban word(s) to say in each situation.

01. The beginning of a conversation.
02. Begging.
03. During an oath.
04. Inviting a guest into your house.
05. Getting a group of people to listen to your announcement.
06. You desire the floor while someone else has it.
07. Leaving a party.

In Exercises 8-43, give the closest Lojban translation of the English sentences.

08. Attention!
09. Listen to me, Victoria.
10. I swear, Benjamin.
11. I don't understand, Christian.
12. I am Pete.
13. Goodbye, Jonathan.
14. Roger, Logan.
15. Wilco.
16. Hello, Rodrigo.
17. Hi, Bertand.
18. Wait! We're not done discussing this!
19. Hark!
20. Agreed.
21. Can I say something, Jose?
22. Just a minute, Jennifer.
23. I'm not done talking, Morgan.
24. Please, Sydney.
25. Over and out.
26. I appreciate that, Chloe.
27. Make yourself at home, Rachel.
28. May I speak, Jasmine?
29. Sorry for interrupting, Sophia, but...
30. I promise, Megan.
31. Thanks, Samuel.
32. Hold on, Nathan.
33. What did you say, Natalie?
34. I interrupt.
35. Greetings, Justin.
36. Uh-huh.
37. Thank you, Dylan.
38. At your service, Austin.
39. I'm listening, Kevin.
40. I understand, Julia.
41. "Houston, we have a problem."
42. Hello! Susan has just left Harold.
43. Hello, Susan! Harold has just left.

[edit] Answers to exercises

01. coi
02. pe'u
03. nu'e
04. fi'i
05. ju'i
06. ta'a
07. co'o

---

08. ju'i
09. ju'i. vektarias.
10. nu'e. bendjamen.
11. je'enai. krestien.
12. mi'e. pit.
13. co'o. janaten.
14. je'e. logen.
15. vi'o
16. coi. radrigos.
17. coi. bertrend.
18. fe'onai
19. ju'i
20. vi'o
21. be'e. xozeis.
22. re'inai. djenefer.
23. mu'onai. morgen.
24. pe'u. sednis.
25. fe'o
26. ki'e. clos.
27. fi'i. reitcel.
28. be'e. djezmen.
29. ta'a. sofias.
30. nu'e. meigen.
31. ki'e. semiul.
32. re'inai. neitan.
33. ke'o. netalis.
34. ta'a
35. coi. jesten.
36. je'e
37. ki'e. delen.
38. fi'i. .asten.
39. re'i. keven.
40. je'e. djulias.
41. doi xustyn. mi'a se nabmi
42. coi do'u la suzyn. la xeirold. puzi cliva
43. coi la suzyn. la xeirold. puzi cliva

[edit] External links

• Lojban reference Grammar Chapter 13: Oooh! Arrgh! Ugh! Yecch! Attitudinal and Emotional Indicators - Despite the title, also discusses vocatives.
• Lojban for Beginners Chapter 12 Lesson 3: Vocatives