Re: Cowan on morphology

[Mr Andrew Rosta <ucleaar@UCL.AC.UK>]

Chris writes:
> After some 'discussion' between And and lojbab, lojbab wrote:

[I hope the scarequotes aren't really necessary.]

> > Loglan pre-GMR was very much like what you suggest would be better -
> >allowing jbama and klama to both be represented by -ama in a compound. It
> >was not as you say - people had to memorize every word they wanted to use,
> >and to rely on the dictionary for every little thing they did.
> >
> Apart from anything else, recognising a word from its ending is phenomenally
> difficult. If you don't believe me, try a little test. Take twenty words at
> random (all about the same length) and divide them into two groups. For one
> group supply a definition and the initial syllable, for the other group
> supply a definition and the last syllable. Now test your friends and see how
> many they get right. I know what I expect, I would like tio see what results
> you get.

(a) I wasn't advocating this system. I agree word-beginnings are easier
to recognize.
(b) even this system wold be more learnable than present lojban rafsi.

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And