tlhIngan-Hol Archive: Sun Feb 08 17:28:03 2004
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Re: other person imperatives
On Sun, 8 Feb 2004, David Trimboli wrote:
> Date: Sun, 8 Feb 2004 16:19:45 -0500
> From: David Trimboli <[email protected]>
> Reply-To: [email protected]
> To: [email protected]
> Subject: Re: other person imperatives
>
> From: <[email protected]>
>
> > Anyway, as I said before, the third-person imperative in Finnish is
> associated quite strongly
> > quite strongly in my mind with {-jaj}. While I wouldn't necessarily
> translate any {-jaj} phrase
> > into thrid-person imperative, I would definitely translate any
> third-person imperative (in a
> > Finnish source text) as a {-jaj} phrase.
>
> In Klingon, these sorts of things would frequently be expressed by a simple
> statement.
>
> Ha'! DaH matlhutlh!
> Let us go get a drink. (Power Klingon)
>
> In the case of wishes and hopes, those Finnish third-person imperatives
> would make sense translated with {-jaj}, but as laws or statements of what
> must be, simple statements will do. Imagine a lawbook that says:
>
> tlhIngan naDHa'lu'ta'bogh ghImlu'.
> A discommended Klingon will be exiled.
I was just about to say the same, so I'll just clarify what I think you're
pointing out -- the suffix /-lu'/ works well in this "third person
imperative", perhaps with the addition of /-nIS/ to indicate a bit more of
an imperative nature. Such as:
may' law' QapnISlu' --> "One must win many battles."
I think that covers the 'third person imperative' idea that was being
described?
...Paul
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