tlhIngan-Hol Archive: Sat Jul 01 18:32:27 2000
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RE: klbc: abstract nouns 2
Just to round out the difference between {'ab} and {'aD}, this is what was
written earlier. Unfortunately, this is a rare example of my failure to note
the source. I'm guessing voragh wrote this to the list, given the format and
some of the details in it. I put it in a place I usually reserve for Okrand
canon, but I think this was misfiled:
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
There are two words used for length: {'aD} and {'ab}. Both of these
can be translated as "have a length of", but they are used somewhat
differently. {'aD} is used in contrast with {juch} "have a width of"
in measuring, say, a table top. {'ab}, on the other hand, is used for
(potentially) longish, skinnyish things (for example, spears) and also
for heights.
Examples:
wej 'ujmey 'ab 'oy'naQ
Painsticks are a little over one meter long (S32)
wej 'uj 'ab naQjej
the spear has a length of three uj
(the spear measures three uj; the spear is three uj long) (EF 10/97)
jav 'ujmey 'ab SuvwI'
the warrior has a length of six ujs
"This might sound a little more natural as `the warrior stands six
ujs' or `the warrior is six ujs tall.' (Or should it be `ujes' in the
translation?)" (EF 10/97)
vagh 'ujmey vI'ab
I have a length of five ujs, I'm five ujs tall. (EF 10/97)
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> -----Original Message-----
> From: Eric Andeen [mailto:[email protected]]
> Sent: Tuesday, June 20, 2000 2:33 PM
> To: '[email protected]'
> Subject: RE: klbc: abstract nouns 2
>
>
> jatlh lay'tel SIvten:
>
> > part of the problem i have with learning and using tlhIngan
> > Hol is figuring out how to render (or "recast") what i want
> > to say into the available words. e.g. how to say "length"?
> > ("to be long" is [ nI' ] or [ tIq ] depending on the sense,
> > so i'll use [ tIq ] here.) does one say something like:
> > "when something is long"? [ tIqDI' vay' ] what is a common
> > paraphrase for this sort of thing?
>
> That's the general idea. There are all sorts of ways to use a verb instead
> of the noun length. If you have a specific situation in mind, let me know.
> It's always easier to figure out how to translate whole ideas than single
> words.
>
> Here are some useful verbs:
>
> tIq - be long (space)
> nI' - be long (time)
> juv - measure
>
> There are also a set of verbs for describing the length and other
> dimensions
> of objects. They take the object to be described as the subject, and a
> number of units of measure (e.g. 'ujmey, qellI'qammey) as their object.
>
> 'ab - Have a length of (one dimensional)
> 'aD - Have a length of (two dimensional)
> juch - Have a width of
> Saw' - Have a depth of
>
> The distinction between <'ab> and <'aD> is fairly subtle, but important.
> <'ab> is used for long skinny things like spears. It is also used for
> people's heights, I believe. <'aD> is used for things like 8.5x11
> paper. If
> you want to ask how long something is, rather than make a statement, just
> use <'ar>.
>
> wej 'uj 'ab naQjej - "the spear has a length of three uj" (about 3'5")
> wa'maH 'uj 'aD yaHwIj - My duty station is about 10 ujes long
> 'uj 'ar 'aD DujlIj? - How long is your ship?
>
> The first example came from Okrand's explanation of <'ab> in an MSN
> newsgroup post, so you can be sure it's correct.
>
> And now that I've talked about a bunch of verbs related to
> length, I'll add
> a noun for good measure: <chuq> - "range; distance".
>
>
> pagh
> Beginners' Grammarian