tlhIngan-Hol Archive: Sun Jan 18 13:00:45 2004

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Re: KLBC -lu' + imperative

Lieven L. Litaer (Quvar) ([email protected]) [KLI Member] [Hol ghojwI']

Am 18.01.2004 12:57:27, schrieb "Scott Willis" <[email protected]>:

>It probably doesn't work at all. The subject of an imperative is always
>second person ("you, y'all"), and use of {-lu'} indicates an indefinite
>third person subject ("someone, something").

from TKD, 4.2.5. Type 5: Indefinite subject/ability:
<<<<<
Those prefixes which normally indicate first- or second-person subject and third-person singular 
object ({vI-, Da-, wI-, bo-}) are used to indicate first- or second-person object. Thus, {vI-,} which 
normally means "I do something to him/her," when in a verb with {-lu'} means 
"someone/something does something to me." Similarly, the prefix {lu-,} which normally means 
"they do something to him/her," becomes "someone/something does something to them."
>>>>>

>As for how to say "Be seen!", I can only suggest a recast. {yI'ang'egh!}

{-lu'} doesn't mean passive voice; it's only the english translation that usually comes out passive.

>"Show yourself", {Daleghlu' 'e' yIchaw'!} "Allow yourself to be seen", etc.

I believe it's no sense to command an indefinite subject...

{Dalegh}  "you see it"
{yIlegh} "DO see it!"
   Subject: you
   Object: it

{Daleghlu'} "someone sees you."
   Subject: indefinite (!!)
   Object: you

If I'd make a command, that would be
{yIleghlu'} "someone SEE you!!"


Quvar.

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