tlhIngan-Hol Archive: Thu Mar 12 12:54:00 1998
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Re: Sor Hap - Some musings
- From: "William H. Martin" <[email protected]>
- Subject: Re: Sor Hap - Some musings
- Date: Thu, 12 Mar 1998 15:53:57 -0500 (EST)
- In-Reply-To: <[email protected]> from "Terrence Donnelly" at Mar 12, 98 12:19:50 pm
According to Terrence Donnelly:
>
> The recent talk about the phrase {Sor Hap} got me thinking:
>
> 1. The existence of this phrase doesn't call into question our belief
> that the N1-N2 noun construction can be used to express composition; it
> only indicates that there is no common word for "wood". As Voragh (?)
> and ghunchu'wI' (?) noted, there is the phrase {baS 'etlh}. In fact, this
> phrase actually confirms that earlier idea: {Sor Hap 'In} = "a drum made
> out of stuff made out of a tree".
"Drum of matter of tree". "Drum of tree matter". It works.
> 2. The phrase {Sor Hap} convinces me that {Hap} = "matter, stuff, the
> substance out of which something is formed" and not "matter, topic,
> problem".
ghaytan.
> 3. The contrasted phrase {baS 'etlh} indicates to me that when there is
> a simple word for a substance, you can use the simple N1-N2 phrase with no
> trouble: {mem HIvje'} = 'plastic cup'; {nav nIvnav nIv} = 'superior paper
> pajamas' (i.e., like you wear in the hospital).
ghaytan. But make that {mep HIvje'}. You might buy one from a
{HIvje' mem}, though.
> 4. (WARNING: Idle speculation follows) The fact that there seems to be
> no simple word for 'wood' leads me to wonder if there are few types of trees
> in the Klingon flora that yield wood suitable for construction or for
> handiwork. I imagine the Klingon landscape to be dominated by shrubs {lav}
> and maybe grasses {tIr?} and bamboo-like plants. Is there a common name
> for the substance of these sorts of plants? Maybe, {nIn}?
jISaHbe'. Of course, we see wooden items in their architecture,
furniture and accessories on the CD, in the movies and TV...
> -- ter'eS
charghwI'