tlhIngan-Hol Archive: Thu Feb 13 18:20:06 1997
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RE: KLBC: Trying to translate
- From: "David Trimboli" <[email protected]>
- Subject: RE: KLBC: Trying to translate
- Date: Fri, 14 Feb 97 00:31:18 UT
February 12, 1997 8:21 PM EST, jatlh Edy Fonseca:
> (E-mail) reH logh veS Quj (VGA) yuQ
> qIb wo' joj may' Qujvam
> logh mIDmoH Quj 'ej tu'jemID je/joq chagh yuQmey HachmoH Quj
> bIlInglaH 'ejDujmey (tongDuj joq veSDuj) 'ang jovam bIHachma'mey
> 'ej loghlI' bIHublaH 'ej jIlpu'ma' HIv
>
> VGA Planets is a graphical, multi-player game, play by E-mail, space war
> game. This game simulates combat in space between galatic scale empires.
> The game emphasizes colonization of space and the development of the
> planets that you will find, colonize and/or coquer. How well you develop
> theses resourses will determine what kind of starships (freighters and
> capital ships) you will be able to produce and how well you will be able
> to defend your space and attack your neighbours.
I think you're biting off a bit more than you can chew. I suggest that you
start over, but this time, instead of starting with this difficult English
original, just try to say a few things that you know how to say, or have a
pretty good idea about. I'm afraid that there's just too much to explain in
this attempt to make it worth the effort of either of us.
I'll give you some tips that may help.
"E-mail" is often translated as {jabbI'ID} "data transmission." That's
exactly what e-mail is, after all.
Make sure that every sentence has a main verb. I see a few of yours do not.
The first line, for instance, is all nouns (except for {reH}, which definitely
isn't meant as a main verb).
Don't try to use nouns as verbs, or vice-versa. {mID}, for example, is
"colony," not "colonize." Find a way to use the word as it is meant to be
used.
When trying to express "and/or," you don't need to say {je/joq}, {joq} all by
itself means "and/or"! And remember that noun conjunctions come after the
last noun.
Make sure that after you have made a Klingon sentence, you can understand what
it means without reference to the original. This is hard to do when you are
the one making the translation, but try to see if you think someone like me
would be able to understand it without the English original. As an example,
let's look at your second line:
qIb wo' joj may' Qujvam
All I see is "galaxy empire area between battle this game." Do you see that
it doesn't express anything? If I sent you a message saying simply "galaxy
empire area between battle this game," would you understand me? Be sure that
what you come up with will successfully convey your thoughts *without* the
English original (but keep sending this, as you will probably make mistakes
from time to time, and I need to know what you meant to say).
bIDo'jaj!
--
SuStel
Beginners' Grammarian
Stardate 97122.6