tlhIngan-Hol Archive: Thu Apr 23 10:17:51 1998
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Re: jItul jIH ghojlaH
- From: Qov <[email protected]>
- Subject: Re: jItul jIH ghojlaH
- Date: Thu, 23 Apr 1998 10:15:06 -0700
At 04:59 98-04-23 -0700, Kira wrote:
}bonI'chay' tlhIngan Hol jatlhlaH?
Ouch. Verb prefixes can only be used on verbs, and we have no permission to
construct compound words out of verbs and question words.
I assume from context you are asking "how long have you been speaking Klingon?"
That would be:
qaStaHvIS DIS 'ar tlhIngan Hol DajatlhtaH?
literally: "While how many years have occurred do you speak Klingon?"
I started studying Klingon ten years ago, but haven't studied it
continuously over that time. I've been a member of the KLI, and a serious
student of the language, for two years this month. Some people you see
posting credible Klingon here have been studying it less than a few months.
}DISmey 'oH'a'?
This does say "is it years" but I'm not sure that the English is translatable.
}jItul jIH ghojlaH
Because the object has to come before the verb, the sentence has to be
reversed. Never write a Klingon verb without considering what its suubject
and object must be, and using the correct prefix. And because a sentence is
the object you need to use the SAO construction with {'e'}. {jIghojlaH 'e'
vItul} See section 6.2.5.
}jIqeqqu'niSbejtaH
"I definitely need to go on really practicing."
maj. Only problem there is that you forgot to shift for the {I}. You
always have to remember that. You're getting the hang of suffixes.
}tuQaHlaH'a'?
"Can you (plural) help me?"
majQa'. Good sentence. pIQaHlaHbej. We sure can help you. And pIQaHqang je,
we're willing to help you, too.
}Also. How would you say somethings like thanks. I know that in the TKD it
say }that there are none, but has anyone found a way to?
Thanks, showing approval of a small thing a person can do for you, can be
expressed with {maj}. You can also describe the benefit to you. {choQaHmo'
jIQuch.} The verb {tlho'} with the correct prefixes (exercise for the
reader) can be used to express real thanks, but Marc OKrand has said with
witnesses including me, that {tlho'} was never intended to translate a
casual "thanks." Just don't bother. If you must be socially polite, use
English.
Qov [email protected]
Beginners' Grammarian