tlhIngan-Hol Archive: Tue Aug 03 21:39:37 1999
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Re: Aspect (was RE: KLBC-Fr.)
ja' peHruS:
>At this point, I suggest a the experts cooperatively write a course teaching
>Klingon-only aspect.
Why make such an issue out of something which is explained clearly in
three pages in The Klingon Dictionary? In fact, it's explained rather
well in a single paragraph on page 40:
Klingon does not express tenses (past, present, future). These
ideas come across from context or other words in the sentence
(such as {wa'leS} "tomorrow"). The language does, however,
indicate aspect: whether an action is completed or not yet
completed, and whether an action is a single event or a continuing
one.
If one takes TKD's explanation as correct and complete, without trying
to read anything into it from other sources, one should have no trouble
understanding it. A certain amount of initial confusion between tense
and aspect is expected, since English is so tense-bound and Klingon is
not, but that confusion should be quickly dispelled with a few examples
of correct usage.
Section 4.2.7 of The Klingon Dictionary is the key. Read it. Try not
to apply any preconceived notions based on the terminology it defines.
Accept it as the authority on Klingon-only aspect.
-- ghunchu'wI' 'utlh