tlhIngan-Hol Archive: Fri Dec 05 12:50:13 1997

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Re: Basic Vocabulary

At 21:24 97-12-03 -0800, Qermaq wrote:

}Which leads me to my question. I am not asking for a word list to be
}posted - that is not permitted. But it is certainly in line with our mission
}for each experienced speaker to suggest their top 25, say, picks for 'most
}useful basic vocabulary'. Learners would then have a starting point to learn
}a basic set of words, and have a relatively balanced vocabulary to start.

It's kind of fun if everyone has a diffent basic vocabulary, because then
you get to learn from others.

}I really am not suggesting we illegally post a vocab list. Rather, I am
}looking for a small set of basic words from which we all, beginners on up,
}can develop conversational fluency. Again, I think this is well within our
}stated mission of education, and not misconstruable as wanton violation of
}any copyright.
}
}I have a goal to be able to speak fluently enough to be able to attend the
}next qep'a' and participate in conversations with relative ease. (If I can
}get the time off to go...) 

A very attainable goal.

}I think part of the means to this end is an
}understanding of the basic vocabulary that fluent speakers use most often
}(of course, in addition to regular use of the language and careful
}consideration of how to think in the language). This would aid understanding
}what others say as well as provide a base of vocabulary to use in
}conversation - a channel in a sea of words, so to speak.
}
}So, what do you say? ;o)

I say learn all prefixes and suffixes and their meanings so that you
recognize them instantly.  Then you should know ...

VERBS: ghaj, ghoj, yaj, legh, neH, jatlh, Qong, ghung, laD, QaH, Suv, jaH,
Sov, tu'

NOUNS: Hol, Soj, batlh, pa', tlhIngan, nuv, ghot, (you only need to know one
of ghot and nuv, but you have to recognize the other), Ha'DIbaH, paq, Doch,
puchpa', Qe'

CHUVMEY: all pronouns, rut, DaH, pIj, not, naDev, pa', nuqDaq, 'Iv, qatlh,
nuq, ghorgh, maj, HIja', HISlaH, ghobe'

Using just those, you could participate in this conversation at the qep'a'.  

A: nuqDaq ghaH Qov'e'?
B: nuq 'oH Qov'e'?
A: nuv ghaH Qov'e'.  ghotpu' ghojmoHtaH.
B: DaH jIyaj.
A: maj. nuqDaq ghaH?
C: jISovbe' jIH. rut pa'DajDaq tu'lu'.
A: qatlh pa'Daq jaH?
C: QongmeH pa'Daq jaH.
A: paqwIj ghaj Qov.  paqwIj vIneH.
B: tlhIngan paq 'oH'a'?
A: HIja'.  paqwIj laD neHmo' Qov DaH paqwIj ghaj ghaH.
B: jIghung.  Soj vIneH.  QongtaHvIS Qov Ha'DIbaH wIghajnISchoH.  Ha'DIbaH
larghDI' Qov Qongbe'choH.
A: largh vIyajbe'
B: That's because it's not on the wordlist.  Look it up!

Experienced speakers might choose different words in some cases, but the
dialogue is understandable.  (Lawrence, you rejected my suggestion of
developing vocabulary sheets so that beginners would have some words to aim
for, and advanced speakers would know what vocabulary to use to be
understood by the beginnners.  Would you reconsider it if the vocabulary
sheets were sent out BEFORE qep'a'?)

Really, the vocabulary you need to know depends on what you need to talk
about. "My bicycle" might not strike you as an especially vital phrase for
travellers, but it's my number one.  It can mean "hello, I'm travelling by
bicycle, as you can see," "you touch that bike and you DIE, street urchin,"
"I've come to claim a bicycle from checked luggage,"  "May I keep my bicycle
in the hotel room?" or "hi, I'm a really stupid tourist, and I know your
language is rich in culture and history and that you're very proud of it and
want nothing to do with the Communist oppressor tongue that happens to be
the only language we have a chance of having in common, but I don't speak
your language.  I have, however, bothered to learn to say this one thing,
now please take pity on me and speak a language I know."  The last requires
practice to convey accurately. :)

My point here (I do have one) is that creativity with what you've got works
just as well when you're talking about the 50 words you have in your head as
with the 2000-odd you can look up. 

Qov     [email protected]
Beginners' Grammarian

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