tlhIngan-Hol Archive: Thu Mar 20 19:09:17 1997

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RE: KLBC Clipped vs not

jatlh SI'IluD:

> lu'
> toH jIghItlhnIS <qoSlIj 'oH jajmo''e' yIQuch>
> DaH jIlugh'a'

ghobe'.

You wouldn't use the noun suffix {-mo'} on {jaj}, especially because you have 
to use {-'e'}, and they're both Type 5 noun suffixes.  Besides, the result 
sounds something like, "Because of the day is your birthday."

However, since pronouns in "to be" constructions tend to act like verbs, why 
not use the *verb* suffix {-mo'} on it?

qoSlIj 'oHmo' jajvam'e' yIQuch
Be happy because this day is your birthday.

heh . . . bIQuchbe'chugh vaj bIHegh!

> As for the clipping, I was thinking of <nuqDaq 'oH puchpa''e'> to <nuqDaq
> puchpa'>
> This is from memory since I don't have my TKD handy.

Your memory is correct.  I retract my earlier assertion that words don't get 
clipped out of Klingon.  I may have forgotten another example.  Clipping seems 
rather haphazard, but things that usually get clipped are:

all verb prefixes
all grammatically nonessential verb suffixes
pronouns

I noticed a particular clipped phrase tonight: {chuyDaH}, shorted from 
{chuyDaH yIlaQ}.  Occasionally, when it's obvious what you're supposed to do 
with a certain object, one may drop the verb entirely.

Clipped Klingon is NOT very well-documented.  You should try to follow the 
examples Okrand has given us, but as long as we understand you, it'll be all 
right.

-- 
SuStel
Beginners' Grammarian
Stardate 97218.7

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