History: The goal document

Source of version: 4 (current)

[http://teddyb.org/robin/Lojban:+You're+Doing+It+Wrong|Robin's essay] contains a proposal that the BPFK should be guided by principles on what the purpose of the Lojban language is. Ideally, we should have a document that is precise and unambiguous, and that everyone finds, if not perfect, then at least acceptable. On this page, we outline a process for compiling such a document. !!1. Summarizing earlier statements of purpose, and arguments thereof * [http://www.loglan.org/Loglan1/index.html|Loglan 1: A Logical Language] * [http://lojban.github.com/cll/|The Complete Lojban Language] * [http://lojban.org/publications/level0/brochure/book1.html|What Is Lojban?] * Mailing list discussions ** Elephant metaphor (Summary: Lojban is different to everyone, and thus has no single, unified goal) !!2. Writing up descriptions of contemporary goals To the extent that they have not already been clearly described. !!3. Determining the ranking of the goals !!4. Any other work ---- !Goals __NB__ hierarchical, but (as yet) unranked * Usable by humans [http://lojban.github.com/cll/1/1/|CLL] ** Simple to learn [http://lojban.github.com/cll/1/1/|CLL] * Computer-tractable [http://lojban.github.com/cll/1/1/|CLL] [http://www.loglan.org/Loglan1/chap1.html#sec1.4|L1] * Based on predicate logic [http://lojban.github.com/cll/1/1/|CLL] [http://www.loglan.org/Loglan1/chap1.html#sec1.2|L1] * Enable unambiguous expressions ** Have an unambiguous grammar [http://lojban.github.com/cll/1/1/|CLL] ** Audiovisual isomorphism *** Phonetic spelling [http://lojban.github.com/cll/1/1/|CLL] ** Self-segregation (that a valid speech stream can only be segmented into words in one way) [http://lojban.github.com/cll/1/1/|CLL] * No exceptions to the rules [http://lojban.github.com/cll/1/1/|CLL] * Remove restrictions on creative and clear thought and communication [http://lojban.github.com/cll/1/1/|CLL] * Be suitable for testing the Sapir–Whorf hypothesis [http://www.loglan.org/Loglan1/chap1.html#sec1.1|L1] * “Metaphysical parsimony”, have as few obligatory categories as possible [http://www.loglan.org/Loglan1/chap1.html#sec1.3|L1] * Be suitable as an IAL [http://www.loglan.org/Loglan1/chap1.html#sec1.8|L1] * Be interesting and mentally stimulating [http://www.loglan.org/Loglan1/chap1.html#sec1.9|L1] * Cultural neutrality [http://lojban.github.com/cll/1/1/|CLL]