tlhIngan-Hol Archive: Thu Apr 23 14:13:22 1998

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Verb prepositional concepts

Recently there has arisen some discussion expressing that the tlhIngan Hol
verb {jeS} does not take a direct object; rather it must use the locative
construction.  The basis of this argument is that TKD glosses the English as
"participate," not as "participate in".  

While I do find it logical that "one participates at a party," I do have a lot
of trouble with a few of other Klingon verbs which would have to include a
prepositional concept in order to take a direct object and I have trouble
expressing them using the locative construction.

1.  {qIm} is glossed as "pay attention, concentrate".  Still, it works so much
better if it means "pay attention [to]".  I cannot reconcile {loDDaq jIqIm} to
mean "I pay attention to the man."  TKD 3.3.5 does say that {-Daq} means "to".
But, I think it does not fit this problem.

Next, {qImHa'} is glossed as "disregard".  Now, this can take a direct object
easily.  {loD vIqImHa'} works.  If we extend the meaning of {qIm} beyond what
the gloss directly tells us to include "regard,"--after all, stripping the
{-Ha'}, that's what we get--then, {qIm} logically takes a direct object, also.
{loD vIqIm} now translates as "I regard the man."

In conclusion, I feel strongly that TKD is incomplete.  Not only are there
typing errors and even misused words (e.g., yIHaghchu' page 48), there are
misglosses (e.g., Qaw' = destroy (n), pages 103 and 128).  Now, if MO would
use every word ever he created in sentences to show us what is right, I'd be
really happy.  Before that shall have happened, however, we KLI members have
taken the liberty to "correct" the "obvious" errors.

It is not so obvious to some Klingonists that the very nature of Klingon verbs
is that they either or take an object or do not take an object, not based at
all on how they are glossed (complete or incomplete) but on whether they have
affixed pronomials which indicate an object or no object.  If I am correct,
this means that {jeS} and {qIm} can take an object at the same time it is
allowed to not take an object--the pronomial set used must change accordingly.
If I am correct again, {jeS} suddenly has to mean "participate [in]" and {qIm}
has to mean "pay attention [to]," beyond the TKD glosses, which have not
included the portions inside the braces.

2.  {juHDaq jIqet} contains the ambiguity that it means either "I run at the
house" or "I run to the house."  While I would never say that {juH vIqet}
means "I run the house"--{juH vIche'} covers that--I do think it works quite
well for "I run to the house."  The strength of my opinion lies in the fact
that {juHDaq jIqet} so obviously means "I run AT the house."  This sentence is
locative.  TKD 3.3.5 explains {-Daq} as a locative, NOT as the completion of
an inseparable prepositional concept of a verb.

peHruS

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