tlhIngan-Hol Archive: Wed Oct 28 08:19:53 1998
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RE: Death to the opposition
: use the suffix <-jaj> on the verb <Hegh>. You also need the proper
: suffix on <jagh>, and that suffix depends on who the opposition is. If it is
: our opposition, the suffix should be <-ma'>. If you are speaking to a group,
: and wishing death to their opposition (you would say "your opposition"), the
: suffix should be <-ra'>.
Just how many enemies do you have? Unless there are more than you can keep
track of, you don't really "need the proper suffix on <jagh>". Surely it will
be clear from the context which enemy you mean! No one - not even a Klingon -
just walks into a room and shouts "Death to the opposition!" for no reason.
: Heghjaj jaghma'
<Heghjaj jagh!> is simpler and has the added advantage of being suitable for
all occasions.
But then, I belong to the "less is more" school of writing, a.k.a. KISS ("keep
it simple, stupid"): the simplest solution with the fewest words is usually
the more expressive and eloquent. In other words, don't add any suffix you
don't absolutely, positively need to be clear *in context*, or unless you want
to particularly emphasize its meaning. Thus, I would only say <Heghjaj
jaghma'> when I wanted to contrast *our* dastardly enemy (who is clearly
deserves death) with someone else's (who doesn't).
Chacun a son gout.
: pagh
: Beginners' Grammarian
_________________________________________________________________________
Voragh "Grammatici certant et adhuc sub judice
Ca'Non Master of the Klingons lis est." Horace (Ars Poetica)