tlhIngan-Hol Archive: Fri Jan 10 10:20:28 2003
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Re: Klingon WOTD: jengva' (n)
>This is the Klingon Word Of The Day for Friday, January 10, 2003.
>
>Klingon word: jengva'
>Part of Speech: noun
>Definition: plate (for eating)
>
>Additional Notes:
>KGT. See also {ngop}.
Note: {jengva'} is the singular "plate", but {ngop} is the inherently
plural noun "plates" (cf. infra).
As used in canon:
nuqDaq 'oH jengva''e'
Where is the plate? KGT
raSDaq jengva' vItatlh
I return the plate to the table. (st.k 7/99)
As discussed in KGT:
Each dish [nay'] is brought to the table (raS) on a platter ('elpI'),
usually
made of metal. The food is arranged not haphazardly but in a way that helps
the food look appealing. For example, in some dishes, pieces are placed with
the veins clearly visible so that the blood still inside them can be seen. A
diner transfers a portion to his or her plate (jengva', though the
plural form
is ngop [plates]), if one is available, by simply grabbing the desired
quantity
of food with a hand. If the 'elpI' (serving platter) is not close by, it is
quite acceptable to just reach across the table or to walk around the table
to a more convenient position. If necessary, two hands may be used to break
off (wItlh) a slab of the desired fare. If ngop (plates) are provided, they
will probably be in a pile somewhere on the table. It is acceptable to reach
over and grab one; it is not acceptable to ask someone else to grab a plate
and pass it down. If there is no pile of plates, none will be furnished, and
it is quite improper to ask for one. (KGT, 99)
Another grammatical feature of Klingon about which children frequently
become
confused involves nouns that are inherently plural, such as cha
("torpedoes")
and ngop ("plates [for eating]"), as opposed to their singular counterparts
peng ("torpedo") and jengva' ("plate"). Instead of using the special plural
forms, children tend forms plurals of these words by simply adding the
plural
suffix -mey to the singular forms (pengmey, jengva'mey), as would be
done with
most other nouns (except for those referring to body parts or to beings
capable
of language, for which -Du' and -pu', respectively, would be used), such as
yuQmey ("planets"). Adults also add mey to these nouns, but they do so to
indicate that the items are scattered about (jengva'mey, "plates
scattered all
over the place"). For children who say jengva'mey, it apparently means
simply
"plates"; that is, it is nothing more than the plural form of jengva'.
Children
seem to be aware of the existence of the inherently plural forms,
however, for
they use them as well, though usually with the suffix -mey superfluously
appended: chamey ("torpedoeses"), ngopmey ("plateses"). Inherently
plural nouns
are considered singular as far as how they fit into the overall grammatical
structure. Thus, the singular pronoun 'oH ("it") is used for both jengva'
("plate") and ngop ("plates") in sentences such as nuqDaq 'oH jengva''e'?
("Where is the plate?") and nuqDaq 'oH ngop'e'? ("Where are the plates?").
Children, however, tend to use the plural pronoun bIH ("they") with ngop
(as well as with jengva'mey and the redundantly suffixed ngopmey): nuqDaq
bIH ngop'e'? ("Where are the plates?")." (KGT, 33-34)
--
Voragh "Damage control is easy. Reading Klingon
- that's
Ca'Non Master of the Klingons hard!" (Montgomery
Scott, STIV)