Lojban/Vocatives

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jbovla English -cu'i -nai brivla
coi greeting
do'u (terminates vocative)
doi (vocative director)
co'o parting
ju'i attention at ease ignore me/us jundi
nu'e promise release promise non-promise nupre
ta'a interruption tavla
pe'u request cpedu
ki'e appreciation/gratitude disappreciation/ingratitude ckire
fi'i welcome unwelcome/inhospitality friti
be'e request to send benji
re'i ready to receive not ready bredi
mu'o completed message more to follow mulno
je'e confirm success unsuccessful receipt jimpe
vi'o will comply will not comply
ke'o please repeat no repeat needed krefu
fe'o end communication not done fanmo
mi'e self-identification non-identification mi
y pause

Since {ki'e} means approximately "Thank you," it might seem appropriate to respond by saying {fi'i}, seemingly corresponding to the English "You're welcome." However, {fi'i} means "welcome" in the sense of an invitation/acceptance only. In order to respond, {je'e} should be used.

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

"ju'i" can be used as an attention-grabber such as the first word in each of the following utterances (if they started a conversation): "Attention, all shoppers", "So, I just got back from my date with Ryan", "Lo! Listen to the news which I bring". This is the function of the very first word of Beowulf. It can also return an audience's attention to the speaker/discussion, such as with some usages of "ahem", clearing the throat, or wrapping on a desk.

Exercises[edit | edit source]

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.

Answers to exercises[edit | edit source]

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

External links[edit | edit source]