tlhIngan-Hol Archive: Sun Jan 28 15:34:00 1996

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Re: charghwI's wish list (was Re: perpetual...)

In a message dated 96-01-24 01:11:38 EST, you write:

>>matay'DI', vIHtaHbogh bIQ rur mu'qaDmey.
>>
>>This is definitely an intransitive use of "vIH", indicating water that is
>>in motion.
>
>Have we a similar answer for {ghur} or {SIH}?  The transitivity question
>in general does not have an easily deduced resolution.  It is a constant
>thorn in our side which we can be removed only by revelation.
>
>

I have not drawn together the gossamer ideas I have on the subject of "open"
transitivity/intransitivity of "all" verbs, even including stative verbs.
 But, here goes a beginning.  

Perhaps Klingon verbs can be either transitive or intransitive, usually
through markings such as {-moH}.  For the time being, I am sure we will find
difficulty making sense of turning some verbs into transititve verbs; but, I
am claiming that all Klingon verbs have the possibility of being either
transitive or intransitive.  This will not make the language easier for
Terran language speakers to learn, yet.  But, it will lead to a deeper, more
precise feeling for the true Klingon way of using tlhIngan Hol.

In Chinese, over the centuries, grammarians were not even aware of the words
"transitive" and "intransitive."  We still used verbs.

peHruS

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