tlhIngan-Hol Archive: Wed Feb 25 07:02:20 2004

Back to archive top level

To this year's listing

[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next]

[tlhIngan-Hol] Re: tu'lu'

David Trimboli ([email protected]) [KLI Member] [Hol po'wI']

From: <[email protected]>

> while searching through my copies of HolQeD, i came across krankor's
> discussion of {-lu'} (v7n3), about why {lu-} is so often forgotten.  he
specifically
> talks about {tu'lu'} (pp4-5) and cites tkd 4.2.5 (p.39):
>
>        When used with the verb {tu'} find, observe and a third-
> person singular subject pronoun [sic: should be prefix] (0), the resulting
> verb form
> {tu'lu'} something/someone finds it is often translated by En-
> glish there is.
>
> his difficulty comes when he wants to use {tu'lu'} with a plural object.
he
> asserts that the passage above requires that the 0 prefix be used with
> {tu'lu'}.  i don't see it that way.
> to me the passage only states what happens when a 3rd person singular
subject
> prefix (0) is added.   it says nothing about when the 3rd person plural
> subject prefix ({lu-}) is added.  so of his two postulated examples for
how to say
> "There are books on the table" {raSDaq paqmey lutu'lu'} and *{raSDaq
paqmey
> tu'lu'}, only the former is the correct way to say it.  in fact, the
quoted
> paragraph says nothing about required prefixes with {tu'lu'}; its purpose
is only
> to give the standard english translation of there is for the 3rd person
> singular form.
> unfortunately, the three canon examples (tkd 39, 171; tkw 29) with plural
> objects which krankor offers all lack prefix {lu-} where one would expect
to find
> it, and they are all translated as there are.
> lay'tel SIvten

This is explained in the "Common Errors" section of KLINGON FOR THE GALACTIC
TRAVELER.  {lu-} is said to be the most common suffix to be dropped
erroneously.  (Okrand often forgets the suffix, so he explains it away as a
common error made by Klingons.)

Both {raSDaq paqmey lutu'lu'} and {raSDaq paqmey tu'lu'} would be accepted
by most Klingon listeners, and only old fogeys would complain about the
latter sentence.

SuStel
Stardate 4152.2

Back to archive top level