tlhIngan-Hol Archive: Mon Jan 13 15:00:05 1997
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RE: chay'
- From: "David Trimboli" <[email protected]>
- Subject: RE: chay'
- Date: Mon, 13 Jan 97 22:25:06 UT
January 13, 1997 2:46 AM EST, jatlh peHruS:
> In Chinese we use {dzemma} to ask {how} something is. We also use it to ask
> the degree of a Stative Verb. I am not good at at Slavic languages yet, but
> from what I can see, {kak} appears to work about the same way. In Hebrew
the
> equivalent is {eikh}.
As has been stated many, many times, Klingon is not Chinese, or Hebrew, or a
Slavic language, or a dialect of English. It is Klingon. It need not act
like other languages.
> I conclude that SuStel is incorrect in saying that {chay'} can only be used
> so narrowly in tlhIngan Hol as to ask how a Subject is. I seriously contend
> that {chay'} may be used to ask the degree of intensity of a Stative Verb.
I
> would prefer to have Marc Okrand answer this. Meanwhile, I welcome
> discussion.
Wait, a complete lack of evidence or example on your part leads you to
conclude that *I* am *incorrect*?!?
Here's another problem for you: although I don't think this is correct either,
I see it more likely to be {'ar beQ ghew} than {chay' beQ ghew} for "How flat
is the bug?" At least {'ar} is asking for a degree of something ("how much")?
In Klingon, {chay' beQ ghew} is a perfectly grammatical question, whose
answer might be {vIgho'}.
> This would produce examples such as: chay' jen qachvetlh
vIchenmoHmo', jen.
> chay' Hop tengchaH
"Bajor" bavtaHmo' 'ej tera' 'oH Daqmaj'e', Hop.
> (naDevvo' chuq 'ar 'oH tengchaH'e')
Too bad we don't know the term for "light-year." Not that I know where Bajor
is supposed to be. But this question is asked correctly.
> chay' tuj jajvam Hat
wovmo' Hov, tuj muD.
You see? That's what you're really asking. In one case, that of the space
station, you came up with an alternative which accurately expressed what you
meant.
--
SuStel
Beginners' Grammarian
Stardate 97037.5