tlhIngan-Hol Archive: Wed Oct 11 10:30:13 2000
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RE: fractions
SOA2K wrote:
> It is common in English to call 2/3 "two over 3"
I've never heard this. But then, I've only been speaking American English for
44 years. I've only heard "two-thirds". Would you really say, "Give me two
over three of the pie?"
Is this how they're teaching kids to say fractions now? I suppose it works for
higher order fractions, e.g. 23/345 "twenty three over three forty five" is
simpler than "twenty three three-hundred-forty-fifths".
> Could we not refer to a fraction this way in Klingon?
> e.g.. cha' Dung jav
DloraH:
: Dung is a noun, not a verb, so what you have written here is a noun-noun
: combination. The "area above" belongs to "two". "two's area above".
: This would make "two" the denominator. The same continues when you attach
: jav (which is 6, not 3) to the noun Dung. "the area above's six", "six of
: the area above".
Also, since {Dung} is a noun in Klingon meaning "area above/overhead", not a
preposition meaning "above" as in English, you would also use {-Daq}:
"An English preposition need not be a part of the translation.
Klingon {Dung} means 'area above', and {DungDaq} is 'overhead',
literally something like 'at the area above'." (TKD:27)
Okrand's example:
nagh DungDaq
above the rock (TKD)
Thus, "two above three" would have to be {wej DungDaq cha'} - whatever that
might mean.
: We have the word for decimal (vI'). Just use that (until we hear more
: from Maltz.)
Agreed: 2/3 = 0.667 {pagh vI' jav jav Soch}.
This shows again that you can devise any method you like to deal with
mathematics, but it won't be understood by others - even those who ostensibly
speak the same language as the translator! - let alone any Klingons! We just
have to be patient and wait for Maltz.
--
Voragh
Ca'Non Master of the Klingons