Re: PLI: zoigy. unless .gy. xelfanva lu secau

["John E. Clifford" <Pycyn@AOL.COM>]

I missed the start of this one, but, while there is often causality implied,
the basic meaning of "unless" is just "or," lojban {a} or the appropriate
related form (including, as the occasion demands, {onoi}).  The problem with
causality is that it is not symmetric, whereas "unless" can at least function
in either direction:  against your cases, "He will come, unless his car
breaks down,"  where the car not breaking down is not the cause of his
coming, but the car breaking down would be the cause of his not coming. But
more importantly, unless does not allow the assertion of one of the
alternatives while the other is subordinated; neither is asserted, unlike the
examples you give.
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