Here's are some example sentences for how I understand -lI' and -taH.
1. veng ghoStaH ghotpu'.
2. veng ghoSlI' ghotpu'.
3. Duj tI'taH jonpIn.
4. Duj tI'lI' jonpIn.
I interpret #1 as meaning that people are always coming to the city.
Maybe it's New York or veng wa'DIch--a big city that always has
people going in and out.
In interpet #2 as meaning that some people are on their way to the
city. They left some time ago, and they're haven't arrived yet, but
they will eventually.
In #3, the engineer is always fixing the ship. There's always
something broken on the ship, so the engineer is always fixing
something. That's his job--it doesn't end. In #4, there is some
damage he is fixing and eventually he will finish. Maybe he's
repairing the warp core and the ship can't move until he's done.
In other words, the progressive (-lI') is used for an action that
*unfolds* over a period of time with a definite beginning and a
definite end. The continuous (-taH) is used for an action that
happens over a period of time without a definite beginning or end.
I don't want to use -lI' with rIQ because I see rIQ as a state
rather than a process that unfolds over time. Either you
are injured or you're not. It may be temporary, ie, have a definite
end, but it doesn't *unfold* over time.
I'm sure someone will dispute my interpretation, though.
bI'reng
_______________________________________________
Tlhingan-hol mailing list
[email protected]
http://stodi.digitalkingdom.org/mailman/listinfo/tlhingan-hol