Should

without using nitcu or .ei


(Moved from How to say it in Lojban page)

That's an odd requirement, a bit like asking how to say "hand" without using xance. The natural way of translating "should" is with ei.

  • The concept of obligation is largely different from english "should" in many cases. If I say "I should go to the store", or "I should eat something", it's not nearly as strong as saying "I need to eat something". It may be just as simple as using .eiru'e in those cases though... — mi'e .djorden.
  • But what about things YOU should do? Cross-reference: Rant: e'o and e'u are not commands - mi'e. kreig.daniyl.
    • ei do zukte
      • "I am obligated to have you do it"? ei is a feeling of obligation. You could use eidai - you feel obligated to do it - or you could/should reread Rant: e'o and e'u are not commands and realize that using an attitudinal to try to order someone to do something is just plain worng. Personally, I'm for nitcu, perhaps with a ru'e stuck in to indicate that you don't need to do it, you just should. But we're supposed to go without nitcu, for some odd reason. - kreig.
        • ei does not mean "I am obligated", it means "this is how I feel things should be". ei do zukte means "I feel it should be so that you do it", or simply "you should do it", which is not to say that you should feel you should do it or feel anything else. "You should do it" is about how I feel, not about how you feel. Also, "you should do it" is not really a command. --xorxes
          • It shouldn't be, but there are times when it is used that way. Sometimes it is also a threat, as in "Why, I oughtta...".
  • bilga


Created by admin. Last Modification: Monday 22 of September, 2003 22:14:23 GMT by admin.