Lojban Through Dialogues
Lesson 29. Because and Should
The evening before the trip. Wrapping up. ki'u gives reasons, .ei expresses obligation, co'a marks beginnings, and pu'o signals imminence. And a beautiful parting phrase.
| Lojban | English |
|---|---|
| mi klama le zdani ki'u le nu mi nitcu lo nu mi sipna | I'm going home because I need to sleep. |
| .ei mi sipna | I should sleep. |
| mi ba co'a sipna | I'll start sleeping. |
| pu'o nicte | Night is about to come. |
| lo nu tavla do kei pu pluka mi | Talking to you was a pleasure. |
| pu'o nicte co'o do | Night is coming — goodbye! |
New words
| Lojban | Meaning |
|---|---|
| ki'u | because (causal marker — ki'u le nu X = "because X") |
| .ei | I should / obligation (attitudinal) |
| co'a | to begin / start (marks the onset of an action) |
| pu'o | about to / imminently (marks that something hasn't started yet but will soon) |
| pluka | x₁ is pleasant to x₂ |
Grammar note: ki'u le nu X = "because [the event of] X." Example: mi klama le zdani ki'u le nu mi nitcu lo nu mi sipna = "I'm going home because I need to sleep." .ei is an attitudinal of obligation — .ei mi sipna = "I should sleep." co'a marks the start of an action: co'a sipna = "start sleeping."
Practice dialogue
The trio says goodnight.
| Lojban | English |
|---|---|
| ca lerci .i .ei mi sipna | It's late. I should sleep. |
| mi ba co'a sipna | I'll start sleeping. |
| lo nu tavla do kei pu pluka mi | Talking to you was a pleasure. |
| pu'o nicte co'o do | Night is coming — goodbye! |
Anticipation prompts
Say in Lojban: Talking to you was a pleasure. (lo nu tavla do kei pu pluka mi)
Say in Lojban: Night is coming — goodbye! (pu'o nicte co'o do)
Say in Lojban: I should sleep. (.ei mi sipna)
Say in Lojban: I'm going home because I need to sleep. (mi klama le zdani ki'u le nu mi nitcu lo nu mi sipna)
Spaced recall — Lessons 26–28
| Lojban | English |
|---|---|
| mi jo'u do ba klama le tcadu | You and I will go to the city. |
| .ai mi vitke le pendo | I'm going to visit a friend. |
| mi kanpe lo nu mi stali | I expect to stay. |
| ba le nu vitke kei mi di'a klama le zdani | After the visit I'll return home. |
| mi ba klama fu le taksi | I'll go by taxi. |
| le karce pe do cu cmalu | Your car is small. |
Challenge: I should go home because it's late. Talking to you was a pleasure. Goodbye! (.ei mi klama le zdani ki'u le nu ca lerci .i lo nu tavla do kei pu pluka mi .i co'o)