Early experiences with "lo do ckiku ma zvati."

I've been interested in Lojban since first learning about it in 1994. At that time, I didn't explore the language beyond a casual glance at the grammar.

More recently, my renewed interest in the language came just as I discovered "Where are your Keys?" Before playing WAYK, I'd been studying Lojban by reading .i la lojban mo, and studying some homemade flashcards. I struggled to integrate what I was learning--learning one aspect of the language was not helping me learn other parts of it.

With ready access to the learning techniques in WAYK, my progress in learning Lojban has rapidly accelerated. The game provides a framework for knowing what I could learn next. Technique: Craig's List, particularly in the form of "Want, Have, Give, Take" provides the template for basic conversational fluency. I use "Technique: Limit" to actively ignore material that exceeds my fluency, and I let my curiosity guide acquisition of vocabulary within a useful scope. Even though I'm having the "same conversation," the different ways in which I can express the same desire let me learn material in a way that I can anchor the new information into my existing web of material.

My WAYK Spanish group has discovered enormous variation of play even with limited vocabulary. Part 1 of the Universal Speed Curriculum covers "What is That?" In the beginning stages of the game, while you're still working on fluency at that level, the signs you use while speaking are an important indicator of whether you're using the word you intended to use. They visually communicate to the listener what you intended to say.

Without adding additional vocabulary, you can use these additional cues in more advanced play. You can intentionally use the wrong sign to see how many other players discover the mistake, and in misspeaking prompt another player to correct you. So long as intentional misdirection doesn't violate "Technique: Obviously," you can use it to increase the amount of fun you can have with the vocabulary you've got. Often as not, the variation teaches vocabulary the person didn't know they had. The same words, different phrases.

I'm currently playing WAYK Lojban solo, as I haven't found other people near me interested in Lojban. My solo play is informed by playing WAYK Spanish with my local "Where are your Keys?" group. I learn interesting ways to introduce variation in play by playing with a group, and those variations apply just as well in a solo game.

I've been impressed to the degree that learning two new languages in different social contexts has been complementary. Playing WAYK Spanish has made it easier to learn Lojban, just as playing WAYK Lojban has made it easier to learn Spanish. Willem & Evan, when first introducing me to WAYK, used the concept of a "20 language child" to provide a vision of how much faster one can be at learning when you apply techniques with positive feedback loops. My experience learning two languages simultaneously is showing me how much I can learn when I learn to learn.

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comment 1

It's an interesting game... I think I have not yet the level to play, but I'll have it in mind (given also the fact it's not ready to play yet) Nice to see you're learning spanish too. I'm Argentinian, so I can help you if you need :) co'o .alan.

coi .leos.

I will be asking for help learning Spanish, thank you for the offer. I've created a link to your website on the sidebar here, I've been reading your own adventure of learning Lojban.

Let's keep in touch, I think we can help each other learn Lojban.