tlhIngan-Hol Archive: Wed Mar 19 20:19:30 1997

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RE: question about 'ar



jatlh qoror:

> 	qoror here.  I've gotten a hail of messages about the use of "-vIp" as a
> verb, and I'd like to wrap it up (I hope) by writing a new version.
> 
> 	lughIjlu' 'e' lu'tu'be'bogh tIqDu' ghaj SuvwI'pu'ma'!
> 	Our boys have hearts that know no fear!
> 
> 	The reason I didn't do a simple "tIqDu' lughIjlu'laHbogh ghaj
> SuvwI'pu'ma'" is that I remembered a proverb from TKW, "not qoHpu''e' neH
> ghIjlu'," or "Only fools have no fear."  But the translation that I did 
means
> that they are -real- warriors.

Some proverbs are contradictory with others.  And sometimes they are not 
followed.  This shouldn't restrict what you say.

However, there's an error in the sentence you didn't want.  You cannot use 
{-lu'} and {-laH} on the same verb.  They are both Type 5 suffixes.  Also, I 
think you're missing a {-be'} somewhere.

I wouldn't have too much of a problem with {tIqDu' lughIjbe'lu'bogh ghaj 
SuvwI'pu'ma'}.  "Our warriors have hearts which one does not scare."  If you 
absolutely must have the "cannot scare" in there, you're going to have to drop 
the indefinite subject:

tIqDu''e' lughIjlaHbe'bogh vay' ghaj SuvwI'pu'ma'.
Our warriors have hearts which someone cannot scare.

I think a much more Klingon way to say this whole thing would be

SuvvIpbe' SuvwI'pu'ma' tIqDu'.
Our warriors' hearts are not afraid to fight.

Though the hearts do not do the actual fighting, remember, the blood doesn't 
really sing, does it?

> 	I have something else I think would be good.  Is "yIn poH 'ar" accurate
> for "How old is he?", or does 'ar have to be in a sentence?

"How many periods live"?  No good.  The best way would be

ben 'ar bogh?
He was born how many years ago?

There's some question as to whether a question word like {'ar} can go in a 
time context, or if it must be only on subject of object.

> 	And one last thing.  I'm confused about the use of "KLBC."  Can someone
> explain exactly how it's used?

That's me!  First look at the FAQ: 
http://www.thomtech.com/~dspeers/klingon/faq.htm#2.4

Haven't you read one of my introductory speeches?

If you put KLBC in the subject line, it marks it as a message dealing with 
beginner-level Klingon.  When a message is first posted under KLBC, the BG is 
the first person to respond to any grammatical or vocabulary points in it.  
However, anyone else is free to answer in Klingon, if carrying on a 
conversation with that first person.

KLBC conversation should be kept at a beginner's level.  If you find yourself 
straying into more complex things, please consider removing the KLBC from the 
subject line.  That way, beginners will know which posts should have stuff 
they can follow without too much trouble, and advanced people can pass it by 
if they like.  However, this is not to segregate list members.  Feel free to 
contribute to KLBC or non-KLBC posts whenever you like.  (And don't post 
complex translations,  stories, or conversations under KLBC.  Think of the 
newbies' terror!)

Oh yes.  Once I've gone through someone's attempt in KLBC, others are then 
allowed to add any comments they might have concerning the person's Klingon 
and my analysis.  I make plenty of mistakes, and they're usually caught by the 
next person to read the post.  If you see a mistake I made, go ahead and rip 
me to shreds.  :)

I think that's it.  There are some other fine points, but my fingers are 
getting tired!

-- 
SuStel
Beginners' Grammarian
Stardate 97216.0


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