tlhIngan-Hol Archive: Sun Aug 22 22:04:25 1999
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Re: Gintaka Son Of Kovu
ja' Voragh:
>> Live long and prosper
>
>ghunchu'wI':
>: As counterpoint, I have always thought that the Vulcan language would
>: make a clear distinction between a "wish" and a "command". Since the
>
>Vulcan might, but this phrase is in English.
The phrase as spoken in "Amok Time" by Vulcans was undeniably given as
an imperative. I choose to believe that is its real intent.
>: phrase in question here is stated as a command, I would prefer not to
>: render it as a wish in Klingon.
>
>Is it? Depends on the punctuation:
>
>"Live long and prosper!" = command.
>
>"Live long and prosper." = wish: "(May you) live long and prosper."
No, both of these are given as imperatives. The exclamation point is
not what turns a sentence into a command. Adding the words "may you"
is cheating. It changes the phrase; they're not there when *I* say it.
>Or do you think "Have a nice day" is also an order?
Of course it's an order. That's what an imperative statement *is*,
grammatically speaking.
-- ghunchu'wI' 'utlh