Vienu otra vietā... varbūtiņās?
vqmalic wrote:"I think I probably use them all interchangeably but mayhaps I'm wrong, I can't possibly know"
That won't work
I'd say that there might be some small difference depending on what you are talking about e.g:
Varbūt es varētu mēģināt - I could try (if you'd allow me)
Laikam es varētu mēģināt - although I am slightly unsure, I could try (if I feel like needing anybody's permission I'm assuming it has already been granted)
Droši vien es varētu mēģināt - I am rather unsure, but I probably could try (I don't really want to)
Varbūt es tā saku - I might be saying it so, but maybe not
Laikam es tā saku - I might be saying it so, but I don't know
Droši vien es tā saku - I probably am saying it so
Varbūt viņam ir suns - He might have a dog, but he might as well not; it's just a theory
Laikam viņam ir suns - Pretty sure he has a dog
Droši vien viņam ir suns - It is likely that he has a dog
IMHO they all imply certain degree of certainty or uncertainty (which exactly depends), not just certain level of uncertainty - varbūt implies probability of about 50/50, laikam implies somewhat more of either certainty or uncertainty, and droši vien (it is literary translated as
sure, only BTW) even more, though I think the later two are close to being synonymous