poi'i

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poi'i [NU] particle: x1 is such that poi'i abstraction is true; x1 binds ke'a within the abstraction.


Proposed Definition

Prenex predicate abstraction. x1 is such that the contained bridi holds true of it. Contains a {ke'a} whose antecedent is the x1 of the poi'i-abstraction. Allows for many kinds of argument-fronting and mid-sentence prenexes.

See Also:

  • {zo'u}

Keywords

Examples

poi'i is a NU abstractor, therefore a poi'i-phrase has the form poi'i [bridi] (kei), and behaves as a selbri. Thus it has a syntax different from that of poi. It's a kind of syntactic sugar, it helps having more word order freedom. The ke'a within the bridi enclosed by poi'i...kei binds to (stands for) the x1 of the selbri created by poi'i...kei. poi'i parallels the English construction X is such that ... it ...

fo'a poi'i (ke'a) broda (kei) = fo'a is such that [ it/him/he/they ] is broda = fo'a broda
la .pam. cu melbi gi'e poi'i so'i da nelci = la .pam. cu melbi gi'e se nelci so'i da
Pam is beautiful and is such that many like her. = Pam is beautiful and is liked by many.

Here, poi'i so'i da nelci ke'a, underlined in the example, is a predicate which means x1 is such that many things like x1.

la. pit. cu stati gi'e poi'i so'i da manci lo nu ke'a dansu = la. pit. cu stati .ije so'i da manci lo nu la .pit. cu dansu
Pete is talented and (is such that) many are amazed by his dancing.
mi kecti lo poi'i ke'a jinvi lo du'u ke'a to'e melbi
I feel sorry for the-thing(s)-which is/are-such-that it/they think that it/they are the-opposite-of-beautiful. = I feel sorry for those who think that they aren't beautiful.
lo mumdei ku po'o poi'i mi penmi lo pampe'o ca ke'a
Fridays are the only time I meet my loved one.

wh-fronting:

ba'e ma poi'i do klama ke'a
WHERE IS IT that you are going?

Mid-sentence prenex:

la .pam. cu melbi gi'e poi'i so'i da nelci ke'a
Pam is beautiful and is liked by many.
...is such that many like her [literally]

Mid-sentence prenex with nested pronoun:

la. pit. cu stati gi'e poi'i so'i da manci lo nu ke'a dansu
Pete is talented and many are amazed by his dancing.
mi kecti lo poi'i ke'a jinvi lo du'u ke'a to'e melbi
I feel sorry for those who think that they aren't beautiful.

Formulae

  • ko'a poi'i ke'a broda == ko'a broda
  • su'o da zo'u da broda == su'o da poi'i ke'a broda
  • ko'a poi'i ko'e broda preposition ke'a == ko'e broda preposition ko'a
  • ko'a goi fo'a broda fo'a == ko'a poi'i ke'a broda ke'a

Merits

poi'i has a wide range of applications, from fluid prenexes to jai-like argument fronting (but without needing fai) and is helpful when a bridi contains complex scope interactions. It allows one to easily express complex reflexives, and overall increases Lojban's flexibilty at the word order level. As poi'i is like a mid-sentence prenex, it also enables the use of quasi-prenexes after bridi-tail connectives (see examples above).

History

  • Earlier the particle kai'i was proposed for this meaning.
  • See SE ka for a nicer but non-baseline-conformant alternative.