History: ro

Source of version: 1 (current)

Information about the conlang Ro, designed with the goal that if you hear an unfamilar word you can at least know what category it falls into, can be found [http://www.invisiblelighthouse.com/langlab/ro.html|here]. ''This seems flawed to me; by Ro's design, words which would be used in the same context but with different meanings are __very__ similar. This works in print, but when spoken, it would be very difficult to distinguish words. For example, the colors all differ by only one letter, so I imagine utterances like "No, not the RED one, the GREEN one!" would be all too common. In other languages, context serves to distinguish similar-sounding words; in Ro, similar-sounding words must be in the same context by definition.'' --((rab.spir)) * Natlangs too like similar words to have similar meanings, e.g. ''overt : covert'' (with ''covert'' changing its pronunciation to rhyme with ''overt''). In many contexts if you're talking about a rabbit in Ro, but someone mishears you & thinks you're talking about a hare, no great misunderstanding occurs. It's only when you want to talk about both rabbits and hares that confusability matters, and even then it's useful that have similar but contrasting sounds, because it is iconic of the similar but contrasting meanings. -- ((And)) ''...and, those syllables bearing the contrast in meaning are allowed/ought to have the stress in pronunciation'' --.aulun. * '''Ro''', to me, seems a really impressive and intelligent conlang of classifying type (not at least of that socially "primitive" kind like the Bantu languages!). It's pronunciation seems to be pleasant (in contrast to ;) Klingon) and really "speakable". Also, imagine!, it's the dedicated work of one single intelligent and enthusiatic man, done through several decades. Bravo! ''--.aulun.'' ---- If you wanted the Lojban word ''ro'', it means "all", "each", or in certain contexts "any". ''ki'ecai .iku'i zoiry roa ry se smuni zo bangu''