History: gismu Brochure

Source of version: 2 (current)

!''gismu''~--~Lojban Root Words ''gismu'' are the basic roots for the Lojban language. These roots were selected based on various criteria: * occurrence or word frequency in other languages * usefulness in building complex concepts * and a few, like the words "''gismu''," "''cmavo''," and "''lujvo''," are included as uniquely Lojbanic concepts that are basic to this language. Each ''gismu'' is exactly five letters long, and has one of two consonant-vowel patterns: -+CVCCV+- or -+CCVCV+- (e.g. ''rafsi'' or ''bridi''). The ''gismu'' are built so as to minimize listening errors in a noisy environment. A ''gismu'' has at least two combining forms, known as ''rafsi''. One is the ''gismu'' itself; one is the ''gismu'' with the final vowel deleted. Certain ''gismu'' have additional, shorter ''rafsi'' assigned. Up to three of these shorter ''rafsi'' may be assigned to a ''gismu'', depending on frequency of usage of the ''gismu'' in building complex concepts and on availability of these shorter ''rafsi''. Short ''rafsi'' use only certain combinations of letters from the ''gismu'', and are of the forms -+CCV+-, -+CVC+-, and -+CVV+- or -+CV'V+-. !!List of Lojban Root Words~--~''le gi'uste''{ANAME()}gihuste{ANAME} The list of Lojban root words (''gismu'') contains about 1350 words. Included in the list are around 50 structure words (''cmavo'') that have assigned affixes (''rafsi''). Each definition contains the following elements: * the ''gismu'' * the corresponding ''rafsi'' (if any) in square brackets * the English keyword * optional memory tags * the definition proper: x{SUB()}1{SUB}...x{SUB()}5{SUB} mark the ''sumti'' positions * optional comments and cross-references A sample definition: ;''bakfu'' [[ baf ] bundle ; 'pack':x{SUB()}1{SUB} is a bundle/package/cluster/clump/pack [[shape/form] containing x{SUB()}2{SUB}, held together by x{SUB()}3{SUB} (cf. ''daski'', ''dakli'', ''tanxe'') * [http://www.lojban.org/publications/wordlists/gismu_english_order.txt|the whole list -- plaintext] (359kb) * [http://www.lojban.org/publications/wordlists/gismu_spanish.txt|the whole list -- Spanish text] (200kb) * [http://www.lojban.org/publications/wordlists/oblique_keywords.txt|keywords for oblique places] of ''gismu'' (88kb)