tlhIngan-Hol Archive: Sat Jan 11 21:35:23 1997
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RE: nuqneH
- From: "David Trimboli" <[email protected]>
- Subject: RE: nuqneH
- Date: Sun, 12 Jan 97 05:33:05 UT
January 11, 1997 11:10 PM EST, jatlh Jajlo':
> I must say, you are thorough�thanks! I'm glad my Klingon was at least
> clear enough for you to figure out what I was **trying** to say!
tugh "basai master" Darur!
> jIyaj. However, the English word "dawn" is also spelled with a lowercase,
> but the name "Dawn" is uppercase.
Yes, but English capitalizes proper nouns. We have no idea how Klingons do it
in {pIqaD}, and there's really no pronunciation difference when you're using
this romanized phonetic alphabet. In any case it's a moot point; we both
agree.
> (Jajlo' jatlh:)
Careful! Who's doing the talking? Jajlo', right? Then she is the subject,
and must come last: {jatlh Jajlo':}.
> >***lIjbe' ghItlh!***
>
> You quite correctly pointed out that "don't forget" should have been
> translated as {yIlIjQo'}. However, you went on to say:
>
> >{ghItlh} actually refers to putting characters on a paper, so I'm going to
> >choose another verb. How about {Qum} "communicate." That's what we
> >mean, right?
>
> Well, actually, no. I literally meant to put characters on paper�I'm a
> writer. (I originally began using "Don't Forget to Write!" when e-mailing
> other writers, and eventually decided to use it as my standard signature,
> since it applies both to myself and�usually�the person to whom I am
> writing.) So, with that clarified, would it be correct to say "bIghItlh
> yIlijQo'!"? (I'll refrain from using my signature in Klingon while I await
> your answer!)
Uh-oh. What we have here is a joke which doesn't translate from English into
Klingon. At least, not off the top of my head . . .
In Klingon, I'd accept the idea that Klingons "record" both messages and
stories. I know they can "record" songs (see the New Words list, {qon}), and
it seems likely that other forms of literature is the same. Assuming that, to
preserve your joke you'd have to say, {bIqon 'e' yIlIjQo'}. But somehow, this
doesn't really work. One would not understand it to have anything to do with
writing e-mail, I think.
Unless someone else has an idea, I think you may have to settle for finding a
new signature line, or keeping it in English.
--
SuStel
Beginners' Grammarian
Stardate 97032.8