tlhIngan-Hol Archive: Sat Sep 20 06:54:07 1997

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Re: [KLBC] RHOTS



[email protected] writes:
>   Speaking of {-lu'} and {-laH}, note also that both syllables of {Qapla'}
>can now be analyzed: "Success is possible," or "One is able to win."

vIHon jIH.

>{pagh wagh Sagh Qagh wagh Dogh}
>"Nothing costs more than an error."

Huh?  I recognize the words, and the grammar, and it indeed *translates* as
what you say.  But what do you intend it to *mean*?  I think you're relying
on English idiom here.  Look at it the other way and see what happens:
"A mistake costs less than nothing does."  The meaning seems backwards.

There's an old joke that relies on this idiomatic ambiguity:
"How can a chicken sandwich be better than complete happiness?  Well,
nothing is better than complete happiness, but a chicken sandwich is
certainly better than nothing."

-- ghunchu'wI'




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