tlhIngan-Hol Archive: Fri Jan 31 19:40:58 1997
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RE: KLBC: SW Quote into tlhIngan-Hol
- From: "David Trimboli" <[email protected]>
- Subject: RE: KLBC: SW Quote into tlhIngan-Hol
- Date: Sat, 1 Feb 97 02:09:01 UT
January 31, 1997 1:00 PM EST, jatlh may'qal ro':
> I want to translate the quote from Yoda in Star Wars into tlhIngan-Hol.
Okay, but if you think you need help, don't try mimicking his funny way of
talking!
> Do or Do not. There is no try.
>
> I've recast and came up with the following:
>
> yIta joq yIta'be'
> tu'lu'be' yInID
>
> You accomplish or You accomplish not.
> There is no you try.
>
> Comments/Suggestions?
My first comment is that you should not have chosen {joq}. Even ignoring the
fact that you meant {qoj}, which is the sentence/verb conjunction, you aren't
trying to say "do and/or do not," you're saying "either do or do not."
{ta'} is a rather good choice to accurately express what Yoda means. My first
thought was {ruch}, but his meaning seems closer to {ta'}.
Don't forget: you cannot use {-be'} on an imperative verb! You must use
{-Qo'}.
yIta' pagh yIta'Qo'. yInIDQo' neH.
Literally, this is "Either accomplish it or do not accomplish it. Do not
merely attempt it."
Actually, I rather dislike using sentence conjunctions with commands.
Sticking with a more traditional approach, I might suggest
bIta' pagh bIta'be'. bInIDqu'laHbe'.
You will accomplish or you will not accomplish. You cannot TRY.
--
SuStel
Beginners' Grammarian
Stardate 97087.2