tlhIngan-Hol Archive: Fri Feb 19 09:10:17 1999
[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next]
Re: Counting targets
'oghwI':
> wej ray'
> 3 targets
ghunchu'wI':
: I don't really know whether this is correct or not. Is {ray'} just an
: "irregular" plural for {DoS}, or does it mean something distinct from
: simply "targets" this way? Counting inherent plurals is an area of the
: language that to the best of my knowledge hasn't been explored well.
When there are different words for the singular and plural, we know that
NUMBER + SINGULAR NOUN + (optional) PLURAL SUFFIX focuses attention on the
items as individuals. See the discussion in KGT (p.49f) on "soldier(s)":
The usual plural form of {mang} is a different word altogether:
{negh} (warriors, soldiers). The word {mangpu'} is seldom used
used, but it is not ungrammatical. It carries with it the notion
that there are individuals (more than one {mang}) making up the
group; {negh} focuses on the group as a unit.
And so we can say {cha' DoSmey DIqIp} "We hit two [different] targets"
(KGT), which is an idiom for disagreeing or, perhaps, missing the point
completely.
Okrand did characterize *{ngopmey} *"plateses" as a form of babytalk, a
common childish error (KGT p.33); a single "plate" is {jengva'}. As far as
I know, Okrand has never considered the possibility of using NUMBER +
PLURAL NOUN. {wej ray'} would either be completely wrong (e.g. a typical
foreigner's mistake) or, just possibly, mean something like "three
groups/concentrations of targets", i.e. three separate locations each
containing multiple targets.
For those interested, here are the attestations of {DoS} and {ray'} in canon:
DoS "target" (sg.)
DoSmey
targets scattered all about. TKD
DoS yIbuS
Concentrate on the target! TKD
matHa', DoS jonta' neH.
Gunner: target engine only. ST3
baHwI', DoS yIbuS! QuQ neH. yaj'a'?
Gunner: Target engine only - Understood? ST3
DoS cha'!
Display target! STMP
tlha'a HoD, DoS wIpuSta'.
Captain Klaa, we have a target in sight. ST5
muSuvqu' DoS vIpoQ. (??)
I need a target that fights back. ST5
[Should this be {muSuvbogh DoS vIpoQ}?]
'entepray' 'oH DoS'e'.
Enterprise targeted! ST5
wa' DoS neH yIbuS
Focus on but one target. TKW
yIQeqQo' neH. DoS yIqIp
Don't just aim; hit the target! TKW
wa' DoS wIqIp
We hit one target (idiom: We agree.) KGT
DoS wIqIp
We hit a target (idiom: We agree.)
cha' DoSmey DIqIp
We hit two targets (idiom: We disagree.) KGT
DoSmey DIqIp
We hit targets
(idiom: We disagree; lit. "We hit scattered targets.") KGT
ray' "targets" (pl.)
ray' wIqIp
We hit targets. KGT
motlh ray' luSamlaHmeH De' Qatlh cha' tlhIngan Duj jIH'a'
The main viewer on a Klingon ship is usually overlaid
with a complex target acquisition grid. SP3
SuvwI' vI' Dub naQvam 'ej ray' HopDaq bachlu'meH chuqna'
ghurmoH naQvam
This serves to steady the aim of a warrior and increase
the effective range for distance targeting. S14
--
Voragh
Ca'Non Master of the Klingons