Lojban Through Dialogues
Lesson 13. Speak Slower!
A practical lesson about pace and shopping. sutra = fast, masno = slow. du'enzu = too (excessively). raunzu = enough, sufficiently. These four make a complete speed dial.
Finally — I can tell you to slow down!
| Lojban | English |
|---|---|
| do ba zukte ma ca le cabdei | What will you do today? |
| .ai ca le cabdei mi klama lo zarci | Today I'm going to go to a shop. |
| xu do ponse lo jdini | Do you have money? |
| go'i .i mi ponse loi jdini meryru'u be li pa no no | Yes. I have 100 US dollars. |
| mi ponse loi meryru'u be li so'o | I have some US dollars. |
| mi ponse loi meryru'u be li so'u | I have a few US dollars. |
| .ai mi te vecnu lo cidja | I'm going to buy some food. |
| xu le jisra cu kargu | Is the juice expensive? |
| le jisra cu du'enzu kargu | The juice is too expensive. |
| do sutra tavla | You speak fast. |
| do du'enzu sutra tavla | You speak too fast. |
| do masno tavla | You speak slowly. |
| do raunzu masno tavla | You speak slow enough. |
| do du'enzu masno tavla | You speak too slowly. |
| .ai mi masno tavla | I'll speak slowly. |
| .ai mi masno tavla seva'u do | I'll speak slowly for your benefit. |
New words
| Lojban | Meaning |
|---|---|
| zarci | shop, store |
| cidja | food |
| sutra | fast, quick |
| masno | slow |
| du'enzu | too, excessively |
| raunzu | enough, sufficiently |
| seva'u | for the benefit of |
| so'o | some (medium quantity) |
| so'u | a few (small quantity) |
| loi | the mass of (collective lo) |
seva'u do — "for your benefit." I'm going to use that one constantly.
Good. It's also a polite softener: "I'll do X for you" reads more considerately than just "I'll do X."
Written prompts
Say in Lojban: You speak too fast. (do du'enzu sutra tavla)
Say in Lojban: I'll speak slowly for your benefit. (.ai mi masno tavla seva'u do)
Say in Lojban: I have a few dollars. (mi ponse loi meryru'u be li so'u)
Recycle — Lessons 10–12
| Lojban | English |
|---|---|
| xu le zarci cu darno le zdani be do | Is the shop far from your home? |
| mi ponse loi jdini meryru'u be li pa no | I have 10 US dollars. |
| le jisra cu kargu .i mi na ponse lo jdini | The juice is expensive. I don't have money. |
Say in Lojban: Please speak slowly. (ko masno tavla seva'u mi)