tlhIngan-Hol Archive: Wed Oct 25 09:26:31 2006
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Re: Dilbert Comic in Klingon for 2006/10/21
Voragh:
> >>DIlbot: {naDev yIqem. naDev yIqemqu'.} (2)
> >>Dilbert: "Bring ... the mouse ... bring the ... mouse."
> >
> >Translating literally, you can either omit {naDev}:
> > MOUSE ... yIqem.
> > Bring ... the mouse.
> >or you can use the "prefix trick":
> > MOUSE ... HIqem.
> > Bring me ... the mouse.
McArdle:
>Now, since the prefix trick is canonical, I realize that I have no valid
>objection to its use, gut reaction or no gut reaction. However, I'd be
>interested in knowing whether it's considered wrong (or unidiomatic) to
>eschew it in favor of the dative suffix. For example, if I said {jiHvaD
>Qa'Hom yIqem} for "bring me the mouse," would a Klingon (a) cry foul, (b)
>laugh uproariously, or (c) bring me a Qa'Hom? (I suppose I should add
>"(d) kill me where I stand.")
We don't have enough information but I imagine it's similar to "Bring me
the mouse" vs. "Bring the mouse to me" in English: a matter of personal
style. The latter is somewhat wordier and less colloquial, but both are
perfectly grammatical. If the sentence is long and complicate, though,
you'd probably be clearer using the version with {-vaD}. (But as always
when trying something new with Klingons, keep your dak'tahg handy just in
case!)
--
Voragh
Ca'Non Master of the Klingons