tlhIngan-Hol Archive: Tue Jul 23 09:19:47 1996

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Re: philosophy - I think, therefore I am.

[{jIQubtaH, vaj jIH} vs {jIQubtaH, vaj jIHtaH}]

I don't think {-taH} is necessary, on *either* word.  The sentence doesn't
seem to be invoking the *process* of thinking, merely the fact that "I" do
think.  But using {jIH} all by itself -- without an object -- sounds, well,
*alien* to how I "think" in tlhIngan Hol.  It's a lot like translating the
original "cogito ergo sum" as "I think, thus I."  It might actually be okay;
after all, the point of the argument is that there is an *I* that is doing
the thinking.  {jIQub jIH.  jIvang jIH.  jIyIn jIH.  jIH.}

I fear that an attempt to come up with the "best" translation of
"I think therefore I am" is going to go one of two ways:
1 - It will turn into a "good day to die" neverending debate with no
    good answer and a number of equally mediocre possibilities, or
2 - It will be resolved in canon but the resolution will be pretty
    disappointing.

I prefer to believe that the very concept of "just existing" is one that
simply cannot be expressed in tlhIngan Hol, and dismiss the problem.  Mu.

-- ghunchu'wI'               batlh Suvchugh vaj batlh SovchoH vaj

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