tlhIngan-Hol Archive: Sat Jan 01 23:19:58 2000
[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next]
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