History: BPFK Section: Vocatives

Proposed Definitions And Examples

be'e (COI)

Vocative. Used to make a request to speak. (cf. ju'i, ta'a)

• Keywords: Request to send.

be'e nolni'u io
re'i
xu do dunda lo sicni
Pardon me, ma'am.
Yes?
Can you spare a dime?

co'o (COI)

Vocative. Used to express an acknowledgement of parting. (cf. tolrinsa)

• Keywords: Bye-bye, goodbye, farewell, so long, adieu, Godspeed.

co'o ro do
Goodbye, everyone!

coi (COI)

Vocative. Used to express greeting. (cf. rinsa)

• Keywords: Hi, hello, howdy, hail, salaam.

coi pe mi pendo do mo
Hello my friend, what are you up to?

fe'o (COI)

Vocative. Used to indicate the end of a discussion.

• Keywords: Over and out.

ai mi na stali gi'e tirna ti i fe'o
I'm not staying to listen to this! Have a nice day!

fi'i (COI)

Vocative. Used to greet cordially a visitor or recent arrival, express hospitality.

• Keywords: Welcome, make yourself at home.

fi'i djan mi'a denpa tu'a do
Welcome, John! We were waiting for you.

fi'i nai (COI*)

Vocative. Used to express inhospitality.

• Keywords:

le'o ko na rivbi fi'i nai palci je tolvri danlu
Grr! Avoid not, unwelcome evil and cowardly beast!

je'e (COI)

Vocative. Used to indicate receipt of a message, acknowledge offers and thanks.

• Keywords: Roger, got it, gotcha, okey, you're welcome.

zo faidon cu pagbu cy ly ly
je'e
"faidon" is in CLL.
Okey.

je'e nai (COI*)

Vocative. Used to deny acknowledgement.

• Keywords:

je'e nai .i mi na jimpe
Sorry, I don't understand.

ju'i (COI)

Vocative. Used to attract attention.

• Keywords: Hey.

ju'i lobypli
Hey, Lojbanist!

ju'i djan ko catlu ti
Hey, John, look at this.

ju'i cu'i (COI*)

Vocative. Used as a command for troops to assume a relaxed position.

• Keywords: At ease.

ju'i cu'i doi sonci
At ease, soldiers.

ju'i nai (COI*)

Vocative. Ignore me.

• Keywords:

ua mi ba'o tolcri ju'i nai
Oh, I found it, never mind.

ke'o (COI)

Vocative. Used to ask for repetition. (cf. je'e nai)

• Keywords: please repeat

ke'o do'u mi na pu tirna
What did you say? I didn't hear.

ki'e (COI)

Vocative. Used to express gratitude.

• Keywords: Thanks.

ki'e sai .i ti melbi
Thank you very much! It's beautiful.

ki'e nai (COI*)

Vocative. Used to express no thanks to you.

• Keywords:

mi'e (COI)

Used for self-introduction.

• Keywords:

coi mi'e nolraitru le munje
Hi, I'm the King of the Universe.

mi'e nai (COI*)

Use for denial of identity.

• Keywords:

coi djan
mi'e nai djan
Hi, John.
I'm not John

mu'o (COI)

Vocative. Used to give up the floor.

• Keywords: over

do ma zvati mu'o
What's your location? Over.

mu'o nai (COI*)

Vocative. Used to continue to hold the floor.

• Keywords: more to come

i je ko'a ma mi cusku pau nai mu'o nai
And what did they tell me?

nu'e (COI)

Vocative. Used to make a promise.

• Keywords:

nu'e do'u mi ba xruti za lo cacra be li me'i pa
I promise I'll be back in less than an hour.

nu'e cu'i (COI*)

Vocative. promise release

• Keywords:

nu'e nai (COI*)

Vocative. un-promise

• Keywords:

pe'u (COI)

Vocative. Used to make a polite request.

• Keywords: Please.

pe'u do'u ko na dunda lo cidja lo danlu
Please don't feed the animals.

re'i (COI)

Vocative. Used to express readiness to listen.

• Keywords: Ready to receive.

re'i do'u do ma sisku
Yes? What were you looking for?

re'i nai (COI*)

Vocative. Used to indicate not being ready to listen /pay attention.

• Keywords: Not ready to receive.

ko denpa ze'a lo mentu re'i nai
Just wait a minute please.

ta'a (COI)

Vocative. Used to interrupt.

• Keywords: Excuse me, pardon me

ta'a da ma stuzi lo vimku'a
Excuse me, could someone tell me where the bathroom is?

vi'o (COI)

Vocative. Used to indicate compliance.

• Keywords: Wilco (ack and will comply), will do.

pe'u do'u ko kargau lo canko
vi'o
Could you please open a window?
Sure.

doi (DOI)

Vocative. Used to identify intended listener.

• Keywords:

ko ti klama doi gerku
Come here doggie.

do'u (DOhU)

Terminator for COI and DOI phrases. (often elidable)

• Keywords: end vocative

Notes

• coi co'o and doi do'u were removed. No special definition needed.