tlhIngan-Hol Archive: Tue Oct 24 10:04:44 2006
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RE: Dilbert Comic in Klingon for 2006/10/18
pm5:
> >>Wally: "One day I realized that sadness is just another word
> >> for not enough coffee."
> >>wa'lI': {yapHa'chugh Dargh wIb 'IQ jIH qen 'e' vIyaj.}
> >
> > {yapbe'chugh Dargh wIb jI'IQ qen 'e' vIyaj.}
This is one of the grey areas of Klingon grammar, but the adverbial in the
second sentence may have to follow {'e'}:
yapbe'chugh Dargh wIb jI'IQ 'e' qen vIyaj
We have IIRC a single example of this:
DuraS tuq tlhIngan yejquv patlh luDub 'e' reH lunIDtaH DuraS
be'nI'pu' lurSa' be'etor je.
The sisters of the House of Duras, Lursa and B'Etor, are constantly
seeking a higher standing for the House of Duras within the Klingon
High Council. S26
Although adverbials precede the object, here it follows the object pronoun
{'e'}. I think in this case {'e'} functions more as if it were a
conjunction - like {'ach}, {'ej} etc. - to separate the two clauses, and so
{reH} has to be moved to the second sentence following {'e'}, closer to the
verb it modifies, in order to keep what is happening in each clause
straight. This is particularly useful in speech.
Be aware that others interpret this example differently - often as an error
by Okrand.
DloraH:
>The english is talking about how a word is being given a new meaning; but
>the klingon is simply stating a personal fact and makes no mention of the
>new definition, and the klingon is saying "I" am sad, where as the new
>english definition is suppose to theoretically apply to anyone.
>
> qa'vIn yapHa' 'oS ['IQ] mu' 'e' vItlhojchoHpu'.
Good point. How about using {-lu'} to make a general statement:
yapHa'chugh qa'vIn 'IQlu'
when (the) coffee is insufficient, one is sad
There are several examples of this patter in canon. Here are a few to study:
pujwI' HIvlu'chugh quvbe'lu'
There is no honor in attacking the weak. TKW
batlhHa' vanglu'taHvIS quv chavbe'lu'
One does not achieve honor while acting dishonorably. TKW
yInlu'taH 'e' bajnISlu'
Survival must be earned. TKW
yay chavlu' 'e' bajnISlu'
Victory must be earned. TKW
potlhbe'chugh yay qatlh pe''eghlu'?
If winning is not important, then why keep score? TKW
'oy'be'lu'chugh Qapbe'lu'
No pain, no gain. TKW
--
Voragh
Ca'Non Master of the Klingons