tlhIngan-Hol Archive: Mon Jun 20 00:12:59 1994
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to have or not to have an object
- From: [email protected]
- Subject: to have or not to have an object
- Date: Mon, 20 Jun 94 12:09:58 EDT
vIghItlhta' jIH:
>I took {qeq} as objectless. That's the usage I'm used to. In fact, I >think
you're the first I've seen to use it transitively (and you can't be >blamed).
The blame goes to Okrand, who didn't specify which verbs >are transitive and
which aren't. You just have to make do with what >feels right.
I've been pondering the idea, so here goes.
Many verbs in TKD are translated by English verbs which can be used
transitively or intransitively. As a result, the transitivity of many Klingon
verbs is left a mystery. It is doubtful that Klingon verbs can be used both
ways, due to formations that use suffixes like {-moH} which has no equivalent
in modern English.
It has always been the position of the KLI to study the Klingon language
objectively. It has never tried to authorize certain usages and ban others.
That's why this proposal may receive much opposition.
I am proposing that a group of Klingonists go thru the list of verbs whose
transitivity is undeterminable by only the translation in the dictionary
proper section of TKD, and apply a label of 'transitive' or 'intransitive' to
each one. I'm not saying that we should simply arbitrarily decide for every
one of these kinds of verbs. We are not a Klingon Academy, nor are we trying
to authorize one standard for all to use, rejecting all other styles. In our
labeling of each verb, we should try to use as much canonical evidence as
possible.
We know that {'oy'} and {vIH} are intransitive, but no official label has
been attached to them. There has always been the question of {chegh}: does it
mean "return (a borrowed item)" or "return (to a place of origin)". From
canonical use in CK {ghorgh pa'wIjDaq jIchegh}, it appears to be the latter.
Also from CK {mu'aw' mInDu'wIj} is an unquestionable indicator of the
transitivity of {'aw'}.
For others such as {Dub} and {qeq}, it may take a bit more digging and
debating to come up with a label.
This project is imesho worthwhile to the KLI and the study of tlhIngan Hol.
It would eliminate much needless debating if someone could just look at the
consensus and say, "Well, the KVTL (or whatever acronym we give the project)
has already determined that {vIH} is intransitive..."
jInmolvamvaD vuD vISovchoHmeH HIjang tlhIH
Guido#1, Leader of All Guidos