tlhIngan-Hol Archive: Wed Dec 10 11:26:07 1997
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RE: -wI' ambiguous suffix
- From: "Andeen, Eric" <[email protected]>
- Subject: RE: -wI' ambiguous suffix
- Date: Wed, 10 Dec 1997 12:35:48 -0700
The Klingon <-wI'> is really no more ambiguous than the English <-er>.
Consider the word "printer": it can mean either a device which prints or
a person or business which prints. "I sent the document to the printer"
these days could mean I am strolling down the hall to pick it up from
the beige device, or it could mean I am driving down the street to Ed's
printing and donut shop.
We also have "stapler", which is used exclusively (as far as I know) for
the device, and "baker", which is used almost as exclusively for the
person. Klingon uses <-wI'> a bit more broadly than English uses <-er>,
primarily because English has a much larger vocabulary. Klingon also
allows <-wI'> on intransitive verbs, allowing words like <ghungwI'>,
which the English <-er> cannot do.
As far as a pen or pencil, I've always favored <ghItlhmeH taj>: even on
Earth, pens do resemble small knives, and I would expect the resemblance
to be more pronounced with Klingon writing tools. This is no better than
any other speculation, though, and I would certainly not expect it to be
universally understood.
pagh
-----Original Message-----
From: Eduardo Fonseca
[SMTP:[email protected]]
Sent: Tuesday, December 09, 1997 6:55 PM
To: Multiple recipients of list
Subject: -wI' ambiguous suffix
Greetings!
I was thinking about suffix < -wI' > (person or thing
who does)
and the ambiguity it can cause. I didn't a word for << pen >>
or << pencil >>
then, the word << ghItlhwI' >> " thing who writes" could be a
good way but
it could mean "writer" too. Okay .. the context will tell us the
write word, but
I'm not sure if we'll have all answers all the time. Another
way I thought
about was << ghItlhmoHwI'>> < thing which cause to write >> but
I'm not
sure about it. I was wondering about the klingon's evolution
and one day
they may had to use a pencil or pen.
__
Eduardo Fonseca || Belo Horizonte, Brasil
Pau Brasil: The brazilian's VGA Planets home page
http://www.geocities.com/BourbonStreet/2460
Hovmey DIvan