tlhIngan-Hol Archive: Fri Feb 11 04:42:17 1994
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Re: prefixes on pronouns
- From: Captain Krankor <[email protected]>
- Subject: Re: prefixes on pronouns
- Date: Fri, 11 Feb 94 15:44:09 -0700
marqoSvo':
>\
>On Feb 9, 8:21pm, Captain Krankor wrote:
>\ How would you say: "Stop whining and be a Klingon!"
>\
>\ I submit:
>\
>\ bIvIngtaH 'e' yImev 'ej tlhIngan yISoH!
>\
>\ Yep, there is no proper defense of it, and, when pushed, I'll readily admit
>\ it is technically illegal. But it's clear, elegant, and there's just no
>\ other way to do it. Frankly, I think Okrand would sanction it if it were
>\ brought before him. Again, I'm willing to look the other way on this one.
>\
>\ --Krankor
>
>I think that in this case it would be better, and at least definitely legal,
>to use {Da} in place of {SoH} in this instance...
>
> bIvingtaH 'e' yImev 'ej tlhIngan yIDa!
>
>Which is closer to the intent of the original, anyway - you're not instructing
>them to change their form, but their behaviour.
Well, regardless of the mublaHghachqoq of yISoH, I instantly agree that
marqoS's is the superior translation. majQa'!
I suppose one could, in similar form, use SaH for the "be in a place" meaning
of "to be":
pa'wIjDaq jIHtaH "I am in my quarters"
wej rep pa'wIjDaq yISaH "Be in my quarters at 3:00"
So, ok, how would you do one where we really do mean *to be* the thing, not
just to act like it? Here are versions with yISoH. Any alternatives?
Worf, to Riker, who's vascillating (*again!*) about whether to accept
yet another promotion to captain of some other ship:
"HoD yISoHvIpQo'!" 'Don't be afraid to be [a] captain!'
Here, I don't think Da cuts it. We're not talking about behavior, we're talking
about accepting the rank and actually *being* one.
How about: Worf, talking to Odo:
"tlhIngan yISoH!" 'Be a Klingon!'
Here, Worf really *is* telling him to change form {{;-)
And a perhaps murkier one: Worf giving Data a costuming suggestion
for the upcoming Halloween party in 10 Forward:
"HaghmoHwI' yISoH" 'Be a clown.'
We'll leave aside the issue of whether or not HaghmoHwI' is the best
way to say "clown". {{:-)
Food for thought.
--Krankor
P.S. HaghmoHwI' yISoH! HaghmoHwI' yISoH! HaghmoHwI' muSHa' qo' Hoch....
(doesn't scan very well, does it?)