tlhIngan-Hol Archive: Fri Feb 12 07:46:35 1999
[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next]
Re: Happy belated birthday
Thornton wrote:
: I can wish someone a happy birthday by saying <qoSlIj Quchjaj!>.
This should be {Quchjaj qoSlIj} "May your birthday be happy!" {qoS} is the subject and must follow the verb {Quch}. {qoS Quch} is the noun phrase "a happy birthday", with {Quch} used "adjectivally".
: How would I wish them a belated happy birthday?
With a bigger gift? <g>
Seriously, you can use {paS} "be late" (it's not in TKD but was heard in "Conversational Klingon" and later published in "Klingon for the Galactic Traveller"): {Quchjaj qoSlIj paS} "May your late birthday be happy!"
FYI, here are other birthday greetings I've seen on the list:
qoSlIj yIlop!
qoSlIj DatIvjaj!
DuQuchmoHjaj qoSlIj!
Quch qoSlIj 'e' vItul.
yIlop! qoSlIj 'oH jajvam'e'.
I prefer a simple {qoSlIj yItIv} "Enjoy your birthday!". This pattern works with all sorts of holidays, just substitute for {qoSlIj}. Many of us use {yupma' yItIv} as an all-purpose holiday ("festival") greeting. That way we don't have to break our heads trying to translate the names of very un-Klingon holidays, which wouldn't be understood without an explanation anyway.
--
Voragh
Ca'Non Master of the Klingons