Conditional
statements in Lojsk can be put into two categories; simple and
complex.
Simple
Conditional statements are comprised of at least two distinct sub-phrases.
A Conditioning sub-phrase and a Conditioned ‘Next-in-Sequence’ sub-phrase.
Take the following example:
ex1[ENG]: If
it rains, (then) I will go by train.
ex1[LOJ]: :zva cauv le hfet
zbwe.a godz le mih xre tren ‘q:
zva cauv le hfet
The Conditioning sub-phrase. It sets the condition, “if it
rains” (lit. “if the weather rains”).
The sub-phrase begins with the grar vi raz (the
Conditioning grar) “zva”,
to mark the sub-phrase as ‘controlling’ or ‘conditioning’.
zbwe.a godz le mih xre tren
The Conditioned sub-phrase, describing what occurs when the
Conditioning sub-phrase proves true, “I will go by train” (lit. “I
go using the train”).
The
sub-phrase begins with the grar vi nedz vo raz (the Next-in-Sequence
Conditioned grar) “zbwe.a”, to mark it as ‘conditioned’ and ‘next-in-sequence’.
Complex Conditional statements are comprised
of at least three distinct sub-phrases. A Conditioning
sub-phrase, a Conditioned ‘Next-in-Sequence’ sub-phrase,
and a Conditioned ‘Alternate-Next-in-Sequence’ sub-phrase
(and/or a Conditioned 'Alternate-Next-in-Sequence
Conditioning' sub-phrase [zmwe.a]). Take the
following example:
ex2[ENG]: If it rains, (then) I will go home via
the train, otherwise (else) I will walk.
ex2[LOJ]: :zva
cauv le hfet zbwe.a godz le mih xre tren q.zmwe.a dzo2 le mih ‘q:
zva cauv le hfet
The
Conditioning sub-phrase. It sets the condition, “if
it rains” (lit. “if the weather rains”).
The
sub-phrase begins with the grar vi raz (the
Conditioning grar) “zva”,
to mark the sub-phrase as ‘controlling’ or ‘conditioning’.
zbwe.a godz le mih xre tren
The Conditioned sub-phrase, describing
what occurs when the Conditioning
sub-phrase proves TRUE, “I will go by train” (lit. “I
go using the train”). (note:
future tense is implied in context)
The
sub-phrase begins with the
grar vi nedz vo raz (the Next-in-Sequence
Conditioned
grar) “zbwe.a”,
to mark it as ‘next-in-sequence’.
zmwe.a
dzo2 le mih
The Conditioned sub-phrase,
describing what alternately
occurs when
the Conditioning sub-phrase
proves FALSE, “I will
walk” (lit. “I
walk”). (note: future
tense is implied in context)
The
sub-phrase begins with
the grar vi nedz
vo dox (the Alternative-Next-in-Sequence
grar) “zme.a”, to mark it as ‘otherwise,
next-in-sequence’.
