tlhIngan-Hol Archive: Fri Nov 01 14:49:54 1996
[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next]
RE: KLBC: some translations
- From: "David Trimboli" <[email protected]>
- Subject: RE: KLBC: some translations
- Date: Fri, 1 Nov 96 22:16:20 UT
jatlh HurghwI':
> It would appear that my main problem is that I didn't know how to use
{'e'}.
> The vague dictionary definition had led me to believe that one could use it
> to basically call attention to the previous topic/subject of conversation.
Yes, that's what it does. You see, the first sentence becomes the object of
the second sentence. I can say (with all pronouns added for ease of
understanding) {jIQuch jIH} "I am happy." I can say {SoH qaHon jIH} "I doubt
you." I can doubt a person or a thing. Can I doubt that I am happy? Sure!
{jIQuch jIH 'e' vIHon jIH}. Or, removing unnecessary pronouns, {jIQuch e'
vIHon}.
Think of this as two sentences (which, essentially, it is). {jIQuch jIH} "I
am happy." {'e' vIHon jIH} "I doubt that." The "that" is referring to the
previous sentence. It acts as a marker which bundles all of the previous
sentence into a tiny little three-letter package and sticks it into the object
position of the second verb.
> Also, can I just use Dochvetlh for "one (of those)," because my point was
to
> try and translate _without_ a specific noun.
{Dochvetlh} is "that thing." "One of <something>" is a highly controversial
thing to say in Klingon, and one which I am definitely not qualified to
answer. You could ask Holtej (d'Armond Speers), or read his article in the
latest HolQeD.
> When I said "'That,' I said,' I meant "'(Insert previous topic here),' I
> said." I was not trying to say the word "that."
Okay, you just have to remember that when using verbs of speaking ({jatlh},
{ja'}, {tlhob}, etc.) you don't use {'e'}. There's no particular reason for
it as far as I know; that's just the way it is. :) Also, you don't use {'e'}
when you are talking about "wanting" something (using {neH}). These
exceptions are found in TKD 66-67).
SuStel
Stardate 96837.5