tlhIngan-Hol Archive: Wed Feb 25 15:28:02 2004

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[tlhIngan-Hol] Re: [tlhIngan-Hol] Re: «law'qu'» rur «'Iq». «puSqu'» rur nuq?

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

From: "Steven Boozer" <[email protected]>

> Re-read his sentence:  "When {tlhoy} is used, it denotes that the ACTION
> expressed by the
> verb is what is being overly DONE or done too much" (emphasis added).
>
> This implies that {tlhoy} is used with *action* verbs, not stative verbs
> (qualities).  All of his examples have action verbs:  {Sop} "eat", {Qong}
> "sleep}, {legh} "see".  ("Sleep" is an action; it's something you do, not
> something you are.)  Since {puS} "be few" is not an action nor is it
> something that can be "done", I don't think you can Quvar's suggestion
works.

We had this discussion before: I think you're reading something into
Okrand's use of the word "action" that he doesn't mean.

Okrand typically uses the word "action" to mean "verb."  I have previously
listed a number of instances in TKD where "action" is not confined to the
idea of a verb of action.  I believe this is also one of those times.  I see
no reason to deny {tlhoy puS} "it is too few"/"they are too few" or {tlhoy
tIn} "it is too big"/"they are too big" as perfectly valid constructions.

While any complete description of Klingon grammar WILL distinguish between
verbs of quality and verbs of action, one cannot rely on Okrand to make this
distinction when describing other concepts.

SuStel
Stardate 4153.2

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