tlhIngan-Hol Archive: Wed Nov 26 16:36:52 1997
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Re: HoSghaj 'oHtaH yoq'quvpu' Hol
- From: "Robyn Stewart" <[email protected]>
- Subject: Re: HoSghaj 'oHtaH yoq'quvpu' Hol
- Date: Wed, 26 Nov 1997 16:37:13 PST
- Organization: NLK Consultants, Inc.
- Priority: normal
Phil wrote:
> HoSghaj 'oHtaH yoq'quvpu' Hol
> The language of the Gods is powerfull.
The concept 'be' as in 'be powerful' is already encompassed by the
word {HoSghaj}. There is no need to add in the pronoun-as-to-be.
"God" you may translate as you wish. {joH'a'} has been used in the
Bible. I take it you are aiming for "honoured humanoids." That
would be {yoqpu' quv}. Leave a space between the noun and the verb
modifying it. Put the plural suffix on the noun, not the verb.
Never insert extra {'} letters to separate syllables.
That gives {HoSghaj yoqpu' quv Hol} "the language of the honoured
humanoids is powerful."
> 'oH laDlaH neh wIv
> Only a selected few can read it.
{'oH laDlaH} is fine for "[singular 3rd person subject] can read it."
The word {neH} (always shift that {H}) placed after a verb
trivializes the action of the verb. If you say {'oH laDlaH neH}
"they can merely read it" you imply perhaps that they can read it,
but they can't understand it, or they can't write it, or that reading
it isn't very important. Put {neH} after a noun to make it mean
"only."
As for the subject, "a selected few." You've left out the concept of
"few" and used the word "choose" or "choice" as the subject.
{'oH laDlaH wIv neH} is "only a choice can read it." That might be
enough for your purposes. If you want to know more, read on ...
Instead of choice, you could say "few who have been chosen."
{puS} is "be few" so {puSwI'pu'} is "ones who are few."
The vague subject who has done the choosing is implied with the
suffix {-lu'} on {wIv}, so the plural {puSwI'pu'} requires the 3rd
person plural prefix {lu-}.
The fact that the choosing is already complete before the time of the
sentence is shown with the perfective suffix {-pu'}. (If the
selection is deliberate and you want to make that clear, use {-ta'}
instead of {-pu'}).
{puSwI'pu' neH luwIvlu'pu'} - only a few have been chosen
To use this a a relative clause, add {-bogh} to the verb and say
{puSwI'pu' neH luwIvlu'pu'bogh} - only the few who have been chosen
Now you are saying "they can read it," so you need to revisit the verb
prefix on {laD}. In the table on p.33, you will find {lu-} as the
they--it prefix. Use it.
{'oH lulaDlaH puSwI'pu' neH luwIvlu'pu'bogh}
"Only the few who have been chosen can read it."
If the idea of selection isn't really important to your sense,
consider {puSwI'pu' le'} "special few."
A final style note: it is clear from the prefix on {laD} that the
object is either {ghaH} or {'oH} and the context doesn't suggest any
person that might be read, so {'oH} is unnecessary. It's usual in
Klingon to leave off pronouns unless they are needed to resolve
ambiguity or add emphasis.
> How far off am I ?
Probably not as far as you feel. :)
You've learned a lot of concepts already, just not always when to use
them and how to combine them. Try translating these sentences. They
increase gradually in difficulty and will help identify what you know
and what you need to learn.
> thanks
qay'be'
- Qov
Robyn Stewart [email protected]
NLK Technical Library ph. (604) 689-0344 fax (604) 443-1000
NLK Consultants Inc. 855 Homer Street, Vancouver BC V6B 5S2