tlhIngan-Hol Archive: Fri Jan 31 19:40:58 1997

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RE: KLBC: SW Quote into tlhIngan-Hol

January 31, 1997 1:00 PM EST, jatlh may'qal ro':

> I want to translate the quote from Yoda in Star Wars into tlhIngan-Hol.

Okay, but if you think you need help, don't try mimicking his funny way of 
talking!

> Do or Do not.  There is no try.
> 
> I've recast and came up with the following:
> 
> yIta joq yIta'be'
> tu'lu'be'  yInID
> 
> You accomplish or You accomplish not.
> There is no you try.
> 
> Comments/Suggestions?

My first comment is that you should not have chosen {joq}.  Even ignoring the 
fact that you meant {qoj}, which is the sentence/verb conjunction, you aren't 
trying to say "do and/or do not," you're saying "either do or do not."

{ta'} is a rather good choice to accurately express what Yoda means.  My first 
thought was {ruch}, but his meaning seems closer to {ta'}.

Don't forget: you cannot use {-be'} on an imperative verb!  You must use 
{-Qo'}.

yIta' pagh yIta'Qo'.  yInIDQo' neH.

Literally, this is "Either accomplish it or do not accomplish it.  Do not 
merely attempt it."

Actually, I rather dislike using sentence conjunctions with commands.  
Sticking with a more traditional approach, I might suggest

bIta' pagh bIta'be'.  bInIDqu'laHbe'.
You will accomplish or you will not accomplish.  You cannot TRY.

-- 
SuStel
Beginners' Grammarian
Stardate 97087.2

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