tlhIngan-Hol Archive: Tue May 20 18:10:46 2003
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RE: DIpmey tIn chenmoH...
ja' DloraH:
>You're both saying how these words are not "legitimate", but meanwhile this
>thread has already quoted TKD...
Yes, but the quote is not sufficiently clear to settle the debate. The
trouble is with the distinction between "compound noun" and "noun-noun
construction".
"... it is possible to combine nouns in the manner
of a compound noun to prodouce a new construct..."
The resulting construct is then clearly identified as a noun-noun, leaving
open the question of whether one may coin true compound nouns.
I've already put forth my position: compound nouns aren't "created" in the
first place, at least not intentionally. They just "happen" as a result of
common usage. Perhaps a comprehensive Klingon dictionary might try to
point out the first use of a compound noun, but it wouldn't be in the
dictionary unless most people knew the word anyway.
-- ghunchu'wI'