tlhIngan-Hol Archive: Sat Jan 01 23:19:58 2000

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Re: Online Klingon Language Course



ja' DujHoD:
>My dictionary also says that "possess" means, "To have as property; own."

The English word "possess" has many meanings.  "Own" is one of them.
Another is "control in the manner of a spirit".  However, there's no
reason I know of to include them in the meaning of the Klingon word
{ghaj}.  The simple definition given to us is "have, possess".  Most
of us interpret that as an indication that {ghaj} carries the meaning
shared by those two words.  It probably does not mean "give birth to"
as in "have a child", or other meanings of "have" that do not match
"possess".

ja' De'vID:
>When you "own" something you "possess" it.

That's not necessarily true.  I own a fraction of several publicly-
traded corporations, but I do not have anything in my possession to
go along with that ownership.  I know some people who own works of
art which are actually possessed by a gallery.  My mother possesses
a box of gifts that belong to my wife.  My son has borrowed a bunch
of books from a friend of the family.

ja' DujHoD:
>What you are saying, IOW, is that "own" is a subset of "possess." If this is
>true, than one can use the word "possess" wherever one can use the word
>"own."

I don't believe that it's true.

>For example:
>
>I own a house.
>I possess a house.
>juH vIghaj.

A renter possesses property, but does not own it.  For example, I now
possess a videotape that is owned by a local Blockbuster Video store.

>The emperor owns this ship.
>The emperor possesses this ship.
>Dujvam ghaj voDleH.

My uncle owns a car which is usually possessed by his wife. :-)

>The owner dislikes you.
>The possessor dislikes you.
>Dupar ghajwI'.

Perhaps I've been hired by a gemstone's owner to track down the thief
who stole it, and that's why the gemstone's possessor dislikes me?  I
hope the owner likes me, though.

The distinction between the concepts of "own" and "possess" is enough
to prompt me to question where the extra "owns" came from.

ja'taH DujHoD:
>...The
>only knowledge we have of the word is the short translation that Okrand gives
>us in the dictionary entry (as well as the canonical usage). I am arguing
>based on that translation. If someone cites specific examples of canon that
>go against my inclination, I might be persuaded to join you and De'vID and
>ghunchu'wI'.

Do you understand why I'm so hesitant to accept "own" as a valid meaning
of the word {ghaj} based merely on the "has, possesses" short translation
and observed usage?

-- ghunchu'wI' 'utlh




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