Query regarding ${parameter:-word} usage

[Mun]

Hi,

I am moving from ksh93 to bash and have a question regarding the usage
of ${parameter:-word} parameter expansion.

In ksh, I use ${*:-.} as an argument to commands.  For example:

   function ll
   {
      ls --color -Flv ${*:-.}
   }

This technique passes '.' as an arg to 'ls' if I didn't pass any args on
the command line (as I'm sure you all already know).  But this does not
work with bash; nor have I been able to come up with a technique that
accomplishes the same thing.  My only workaround so far is to put an
'if' loop around the 'ls' that tests $# and takes the appropriate branch
depending on the number of args (i.e., 0 or non-zero).

Any suggestions would be welcomed.  Thanks in advance.

-- 
Mun