tlhIngan-Hol Archive: Sun Nov 30 13:09:32 1997
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Re: maHagh tlhInganpu'
On Sun, 30 Nov 1997, Mark E. Shoulson wrote:
|But it is somewhat helpful. It happens that according to MY instincts,
|"maHagh Hoch" *is* okay (though perhaps some other examples aren't). So
|there you have it, instinct vs. instinct. One thing I'm finding
|particularly bothersome is that these sorts of discussions start to sound
|like shouting matches. It's not a matter of who has which instincts, nor
|even whose instincts are more trustworthy, but who can sound most confident
|in his/her statement of them.
Typical Klingon debating style, I would think.
| Since I, by nature, tend to be inclusive and
|aware of differing opinions when I state my own, I can't possibly compete
|with more assertive statements out there. Does that make me wrong? "I say
|this because I'm absolutely positive I'm right," indeed. You may be, but
|that doesn't make you any more right.
If you're going to be arguing with those who take their role-playing a bit
too seriously, you might want to listen to "Power Klingon" again. {{;)
As it happens, I agree with you on the <maHagh tlhInganpu'> issue - it just
feels right (even if Okrand didn't think of it). But it *is* marked usage,
unusual, not expected, and... vivid. It's a matter of style, which is
always subjective. If you don't like it, don't use it.
All too often I see arguments based on the assumption that "If it is not
explicitly allowed, it must be forbidden." That isn't the attitude of
self-confident (jeQ) Klingon warriors, but rather timid _kuve_ (to use "le
mot juste" from klingonaase).
"Speak Klingon boldly! Do not be meek or hesitant!"
Voragh