tlhIngan-Hol Archive: Mon Apr 28 03:31:08 1997

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RE: KLBC: Some Sayings

[email protected] on behalf of Jim LeMaster wrote:
> > > Would   "muQapmeH" work in this situation?
> > 
> > "In order that it functions me" is just as bad.
> > 
> I translate that as "It functions me for. or It functions for me." (TKD,
> 'English Index to Klingon Afflixes, section 3, Verb suffixes).
> But, I'll drop it beyond this.  The problem here seems to be a
> philosophical one (You: "maj is all that is needed.") and I'm not
> anywhere near fluent enough to argue grammar details.

Well, let's break it down.  {Qap} "work, function, succeed."  {QapmeH} "in 
order to work, function, succeed."  {mu-} "he/she/it/they" subject, "me" 
object.  {muQapmeH} "in order that he/she/it/they work, function, succeed me."

If it were "succeed for," then that's exactly what TKD would say.  We have 
{loS} "wait for."  It's not just "wait," it's "wait for."

Also, this is an English expression, which just won't translate like that!  
Metaphors, idioms, and other sorts of expressions just won't always translate. 
 In fact, they usually don't.  Klingon has its own set of idioms and proverbs. 
 Choose from them.

> Perhaps, another context, (I'm <again> probably trying to run rather
> than walk), how would I say: 
> 
> A person needs to know how his own abilities will/would limit his
> success(es).
> 
> ghot SovnIS vuS laHmeymo'Daj yaymeyDaj.  (???)

I've addressed this in another post.  You are not using {-mo'} correctly at 
all.

> > > > > (Popeye's philosophy) Iam what I am.
> > You're beginning to sound like you want to say
> > 
> > not jIchoH
> > I never change.
> > 
> Close, once again, it is an oblique reference to my *character* or my
> public/private personna.  Another way to say this, in English, is "My
> actions and decisions do not change from day to day or in private versus
> public." Or, shorter, "What you see is what you get."  I would see a
> Klingon answering the question: "What sort of being are you?" with "I am
> what I am, a Klingon!"

A Klingon would just say {tlhIngan jIH}.  Klingon is not set up for these 
tautologies, probably because Klingons have no use for them.

> > > jIratlh tuq l'maSto'r Y'jImbo puqloD warDIn.
> > > I remain Yojimbo, son of Warden, of the House LeMaster.
> > 
> > I *know* you cannot use {ratlh} like this!
> In English, we use the honorific "I remain", which is probably short for
> "I remain your (friend, servant, etc.) What wouls be the Klingon
> equivalent?

The Klingon would walk away.  There's a *reason* Klingon has no word for 
"goodbye"!  Klingons don't say these sorts of things.  Not because they're 
rude or crude.  Because that's correct for their culture.  Brevity and action. 
 Stop wasting time with words.

-- 
SuStel
Beginners' Grammarian
Stardate 97323.0

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