tlhIngan-Hol Archive: Tue Dec 15 08:54:17 1998
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Re: Everybody's favorite verb suffixes - The rovers
: I have a few questions concerning -qu' and -be' , regarding their
: meaning after various suffixes.
: What are the effects of -be' and -qu' after the following:
: -'egh and -chuq
: -choH and -qa'
: -moH
: -lu' (-lu' somebody, -lu'be' nobody, -lu'qu' everybody)
You're reaching here. Except for {tu'lu'be'}, we've never seen these last two
combinations. We have seen {-be'lu'}, in that order with {-be'} negating the
verb - or another affix like {-Ha'} - not {-lu'}. BTW, {tu'lu'} is a strange,
perhaps inviolable expression: you would expect {tu'be'lu'}.
: -pu'
: -ta'
: -taH
: -lI'
: -neS (I'm guessing -neSqu' would be used for great respect, and -neSbe'
: would be used in a derogatory sense.)
{-neS} is so infrequently used - and NEVER required by custom - that it is
fine
by itself. This suffix should be used sparingly, if at all. I imagine
{-neSqu'} would be interpreted as disgustingly subservient, sniveling and
groveling: unworthy of a Klingon, just like using {-vIp}. Grammatically
correct, perhaps, but culturally taboo. As for {-neSbe'}, I doubt you would
survive the attempt. Remember {-neS} is *only* used when speaking to one's
military or social superior and Klingons, particularly those in positions of
power and authority, do not take kindly to having their honor insulted and
tend
respond immediately with deadly force.
: -Ha'
: -be'
: -qu'
: Also, an you have more than one -be' or -qu' in a single word?
No, I don't believe so. (Is there a rule to this effect somewhere in TKD?)
The suffix applies to the entire string of prefix+verb+suffix(es), though its
exact position in the string may vary the meaning a bit, depending on just
what
is being negated or emphasized. (Cf. TKD p. 46f for examples.) Note that you
can use both {-be'} and {-qu'} together.
Here are my *unformatted* entries from my notes for these two suffixes. (I.e.
the MS-Word formatting was lost when I copied it into my email, and I'm not
going to take the time to fix it here.) The listing is not complete, as I've
fallen behind adding all of the recent material, but it should help you to get
a feel for how they are actually used in context. If you don't understand my
abbreviations, just ask:
-be' not ["Rovers are verb suffixes which... can come just about anywhere
except following a Type 9 suffix." (TKD 4.3) "This is the general suffix of
negation, translated as English not. It follows the concept being negated.
vIlo'laHbe' they are useless to me, I cannot use them, jISaHbe' I don't care
(which of several courses of action is followed), qay'be' it's not a problem,
no problem (exclamation). The roving nature of -be' is best illustrated in the
following set of words. choHoHvIp you are afraid to kill me, choHoHvIpbe' you
are not afraid to kill me, choHoHbe'vIp you are afraid to not kill me. In the
second word, the negated notion is afraid (that is, not afraid), and -be'
follows -vIp. In the third word, the negated notion is kill (that is, not
kill), so -be' follows HoH. The suffix -be' cannot be used with imperative
verbs... This negative suffix [i.e. -Qo'] is used in imperatives and to denote
refusal."] (TKD 46f) "The absence of a verb + -moH entry in the Dictionary
lists does not mean that that particular formation cannot be made. The same
goes for the negative suffixes -Ha' and -be' which, along with -moH, are the
most common verb suffixes found in the Dictionary lists... Since the negative
suffixes are Rovers, they follow different rules... The Rover -be' comes right
after whatever it is negating. Both Qochbe'nIS he/she/they need to not
disagree
(that is, he/she/they need to agree) and QochnISbe' he/she/they do not need to
disagree are acceptable Klingon formations. The fact that the Dictionary lists
Qochbe' agree (that is, literally, not disagree) does not mean that no suffix
may precede the -be'. It's in there so that someone can easily look up how to
say agree." (BBS 11/97) Krankor asked Okrand at qep'a' loSDIch whether -be'
can
be inserted between -taH and -vIS for a suffix combination -taHbe'vIS (meaning
something like while discontinuously). The answer was: "That's an interesting
question." (HetaQ)] - lo'laHbe'ghach worthlessness. vIlo'laHbe' they are
useless to me, I cannot use them. jISaHbe' I don't care (which of several
courses of action is followed). qay'be' it's not a problem, no problem (excl).
choHoHvIpbe' you are not afraid to kill me. choHoHbe'vIp you are afraid to not
kill me. nuQaw'qu'be' they have not finished us off. pIHoHvIpbe'qu' we are NOT
afraid to kill you. pIHoHvIpqu'be' we are not AFRAID to kill you.
pIHoHqu'vIpbe' we are not afraid to KILL you. jlyajbe' I don't understand.
jISaHbe' I don't care. tlhIngan Hol vIjatlhlaHbe' I cannot speak Klingon.
bIlughbe' You are wrong. pIch vIghajbe' It's not my fault. bIjeghbe'chugh vaj
bIHegh Surrender or die! QumwI'wIj vItu'laHbe' I can't find my communicator.
jIHtaHbogh naDev vISovbe' I'm lost. Dochvetlh vlSoplaHbe' I can't eat that.
vIta'pu'be' I didn't do it. pa' jIHpu'be' I wasn't there. TKD - tlhIngan Hol
vIjatlhbe' I don't speak Klingon. naDev vay' vISovbe' I don't know anyone
here.
yIHmey vIHIjbe' I'm not transporting tribbles. wa'maH yIHmey lI'be' ten
useless
tribbles. bIje'be'chugh vaj bIHegh Buy or die! naDevvo' jIleghlaHchu'be' I
can't see well from here. tlhIngan jIHbe' I am not a Klingon! CK - bIyIntaH
'e'
Daqotlhbe' [You don't deserve to live (i.e. keep on living).] bIDIlbe'chugh
vaj
bIHegh Pay or die! QuvlIjDaq yIH tu'be'lu'jaj May your coordinates be free of
tribbles! Hov ghajbe'bogh ram rur pegh ghajbe'bogh jaj A day without
secrets is
like a night without stars. Eat everything or you will die without honor. Hoch
DaSopbe'chugh batlh bIHeghbe' Eat everything or you will die without honor.
jIyajbe' I do not understand. (CpK: yajbe') DaqwIj vISovbe' I am lost ("I do
not know my location." CpK: DaqwIj Sovbe') lIchopbe'chugh ghewmey If the bugs
do not bite you! jIDoy'be' I am NOT tired! tera'ngan motlhbe' SoH You are an
unusual Terran. PK - taH pagh taHbe' "To be or not to be." (originally yIn
pagh
yInbe'). ghu'maj Dayajbe'law' Sa' [You don't seem to grasp our situation,
General. (novel)] 'e' neHbe' vavwI' That wasn't what my father wanted. Daq
Sovbejbe'taH qerq Kirk cannot know the location... ST6 - loD Quch jIHbe' I am
not a merry man. QongDaqDaq Qotbe' tlhInganpu' Klingons do not lie in bed.
'utbe' bel Pleasure is nonessential. HIvbe' qoHpu' neH Only fools don't
attack.
ghob tIvnISbe'lu' One need not enjoy virtue. ["The Klingon construction
tIvnISbe' means does not need to enjoy; tIvbe'nIS would mean needs to not
enjoy, an utterly different concept." TKW 48] bIlujlaHbe'chugh bIQaplaHbe' If
you cannot fail, you cannot succeed ("If you cannot lose, you cannot win").
bItuHlaHbe'chugh bIquvlaHbe' If you cannot be shamed, you cannot be honored.
vubpu' jon nuchpu' jonbe' tlhInganpu' Cowards take hostages. Klingons do not.
qoH vuvbe' SuS The wind does not respect a fool. cheqotlhchugh maHaghbe''a'?
cheDuQchugh mareghbe''a'? cheQIHchugh manoDbe''a'? Tickle us, do we not laugh?
Prick us, do we not bleed? Wrong us, shall we not seek revenge?
leghlaHchu'be'chugh mIn lo'laHbe' taj jej A sharp knife is nothing without a
sharp eye. 'oy'be'lu'chugh Qapbe'lu' No pain, no gain. Suvbe'chugh SuvwI'
tlhuHbe' SuvwI' If a warrior does not fight, he does not breathe. noH QapmeH
wo' Qaw'lu'chugh yay chavbe'lu' 'ej wo' choqmeH may' DoHlu'chugh lujbe'lu'
Destroying an empire to win a war is no victory, and ending a battle to
save an
empire is no defeat. TKW - Dajatlhbogh vIyajbe' I find no match for what you
have just said. KCD - nI'be' yInmaj 'ach wovqu' Our lives burn short and
bright. (Anthem) - qaHarbe'; bo'Dagh'a' Dalo' I don't believe you; you're
using
a big scoop (i.e. "You're exaggerating") bo'Dagh'a' vIlo'be' I'm not using a
big scoop (i.e. "I'm not exaggerating") HoD QaQbe' ghaH; reH to'waQ yIv He/she
is not a good captain; he/she always chews ligament. vaj Duj chIjbe' He/she
does not navigate a warrior ship (i.e. "He/she lacks strength of character.")
naH jajmeywIj betleH vIyanbe' In my vegetable days, I did not wield a
bat'leth.
Hoch nuH qelbe' He/she does not consider every weapon. (idiom: "Consider every
possibility!") qatlh betleHDaj tlhapbe' Why doesn't he take his bat'leth? taQ
pagh taQbe' To be weird or not to be weird. taH pagh taHbe' To be or not to be
("[one] continues or [one] does not continue") KGT - tajwIj 'oHbe' chorlIj
jeqbogh Dochvetlh'e' That is not my dagger protruding from your midsection.
FTG
- QaptaHvIS So'wI' QaplaHbe' nuHmey weapons cannot be discharged while the
cloak is in operation. ngongmeH wa' DujDaq nuHmey nISbe'bogh So'wI' jomlu'pu'
[A cloaking device which didn't disrupt weaponry was installed in one
experimental ship.] S33
-qu' emphatic ("Rovers are verb suffixes which... can come just about
anywhere
except following a Type 9 suffix." TKD 4.3): very, too (much), A LOT, VERY
MUCH
GP ["This suffix emphasizes or affirms whatever immediately precedes it.
yIHaDqu' study him/her well, nuQaw'qu'be' they have not finished us off. The
roving nature of -qu' can be seen in the following set: pIHoHvIpbe'qu' we are
NOT afraid to kill you, pIHoHvIpqu'be' we are not AFRAID to kill you,
pIHoHqu'vIpbe' we are not afraid to KILL you. The first word might be used
after an enemy challenged the bravery of the speaker. The second might be
followed by an explanation such as, "We are not willing to kill you because we
require your services." The third word would be used to emphasize killing, as
opposed to some other form of punishment... The rover -qu' emphatic may follow
verbs functioning adjectivally. In this usage, it is usually translated very.
Dujmey tInqu' very big ships, wanI' ramqu' a very unimportant event. If a Type
5 noun suffix [i.e. -'e', -Daq, -vo', -vaD, -mo'] is used (section 3.3.5), it
follows the verb, which, when used to modify the noun in this way, can have no
other suffix except the rover -qu' emphatic. The Type 5 noun suffix follows
-qu'... veng tInqu'Daq in the very big city." (TKD 48ff) [Various devices are
employed when it is necessary to talk about colors more precisely. The suffix
-qu' is useful as in Doqqu' (red) and SuDqu' (green). (KGT) "In speaking about
a fine weapon, one could compliment it even further by adding the emphatic
-qu'
to vaQ. A really spectacular bat'leth would be a betleH vaQqu'." (KGT 67)] -
yIHaDqu' Study him well (cf. -chu'). tujqu'choH QuQ The engine is
overheating. TKD - meH, naDev qaS wanI' ramqu' Bridge, nothing happening here.
ST3 - Qatlhqu' Most difficult. muSuvqu' DoS vIpoQ I need a target that fights
back. nom yIghoSqu' Maximum speed. po'qu' He's good. qerq wItlha'taHqu' Where
Kirk goes, we follow. ST5 - HoSghajqu' Too potent. CK - jIDoy'qu' I am very
tired. naDev Dochvetlh qemqu' I really mean it this time! Bring that here!
jIghungqu' I am very hungry. PK - Qapqu' wovmoHbogh janHommey It even has
working lights! (Hallmark) - tIqIpqu' 'ej nom tIqIp Hit them hard and hit them
fast. bortaS nIvqu' 'oH bortaS'e' Revenge is the best revenge. 'etlh
QorghHa'lu'chugh ragh 'etlh nIvqu' 'ej jejHa'choH Even the best blade will
rust
and grow dull unless it is cared for. Heghlu'DI' mobbe'lu'chugh QaQqu' Hegh
wanI' Death is an experience best shared. bIQapqu'meH tar DaSop 'e'
DatIvnIS To
really succeed, you must enjoy eating poison. yIntaHbogh qagh jablu'DI' reH
nIvqu' qagh Gagh is always best when served live. TKW - nI'be' yInmaj 'ach
wovqu' Our lives burn short and bright. batlh maHeghbej 'ej yo' qIjDaq
vavpu'ma' DImuv. pa' reH maSuvtaHqu' Then we die with honor and join our
fathers in the Black Fleet where we battle forever. (Anthem) - pInaDqu' tuqlIj
wInaDqu' je Glory to you and your house ("We praise you highly; we also praise
your house highly") KGT - 'ejyo' luch rurbe'qu' tlhIngan Duj luch. Klingon
starship design is vastly different from Starfleet technology. HoS law'qu'
luch
law'qu' je lo' Duj nuH pat Hub pat je A huge amount of the ship's power and
technology is devoted to its weapons grid and defensive systems. SP3 - qorDu'
SaHlu'chugh 'ej matlhlu'chugh vaj wa' tlhIngan ghob potlhqu' devotion and
loyalty to family is one of the most important Klingon virtues. S13 -
yIntaHbogh tlhIngan Soj tlhol jablu'DI' tIvqu'lu' Klingon food is best when
served fresh and live. S21 - HoS law'qu' natlhmo' So'wI' Due to the tremendous
energy drain of a cloaking device... S33 - jar DamaSqu'bogh yIngu' What/which
is your favorite month? ("Identify the month that you very much prefer!") [If
you want to highlight the notion of "most prefer," you can use the emphatic
suffix -qu' ("In this case, since prefer involves making a choice, the one
chosen is automatically the one that is most preferred.")] BBS - laS veghaS
HIltonDaq Hov leng: yIjeSchu' qaSchoHmo', bIlopqu'meH HIlton yIghoS Come
celebrate the grand opening of Star Trek: The Experience at the Las Vegas
Hilton. STX - jIpaSqu'mo' narghpu' qaSuchmeH 'eb Because I'm very late, the
opportunity to visit you has escaped. qaSuch vIneH 'ach narghpu' 'eb. jIpaSqu'
I want to visit you, but the opportunity has escaped. I am very late.
qaSuchlaHbe'. jIpaSqu' vaj narghpu' 'eb I cannot visit you. I am very late,
thus the opportunity has escaped. ("I was too late to visit you.") ["-qu' is
usually translated very or extremely or the like (that is, paSqu' means very
late), so if too late means very late, all is well. But in the example
sentence
(I was too late to visit you), the phrase too late doesn't mean very late; it
means excessively late or overly late. Thus using paSqu' might not be the best
course in the first place. It doesn't get across the idea of going beyond some
cutoff point." (BBS 1/98)]
_________________________________________________________________________
Voragh "Grammatici certant et adhuc sub judice
Ca'Non Master of the Klingons lis est." Horace (Ars Poetica)