tlhIngan-Hol Archive: Tue Apr 24 09:34:04 2001
[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next]
Re: KLBC - Imperatives vs questions
yeygha' wrote:
: In the case of finding out information from someone, which is more
: appropriate: imperatives or questions? For example, to find out someone's
: name:
Since this is more a question of style than grammar, I'll comment and quote
some canon at you... <g>
Okrand has indicated on startrek.klingon (7/99) that Klingons tend to use the
imperative of {ngu'} "identify" where English speakers would say "Where is X?"
"What is X?" and, especially, "Which X ...?". E.g.:
jar DamaSqu'bogh yIngu'
What/which is your favorite month?
("Identify the month that you very much prefer!") (st.k)
Daq DaDabbogh yIngu'
Where do you live?
("Identify the place where you live [at]?") (st.k)
He also included an example in KGT:
nuH DaneHbogh yIngu'!
Which weapon do you want?
("Identify the weapon that you want!") KGT
Thus:
yIngu''egh!
Identify yourself!
ponglIj yIngu'!
Identify your name!
(This sounds a bit awkward in English - perhaps {ponglIj yIper!} "Specify your
name!" works better? - but whether it's awkward in Klingon is anyone's guess.
Maltz?)
: {ponglIj HIja'} Tell me your name.
: This is assuming that the two speakers are socially equal.
This seems fine to me and has the advantage of being short and to the point.
(Nice use of the "prefix trick", too.) If you're really worried about
offending one of your betters, you can add {-neS} to the verb:
"It is used to express EXTREME politeness or deference. It is
used only in addressing a superior, someone of higher rank
in the Klingon social, political, or military hierarchy. IT
IS NEVER REQUIRED." (TKD p.43, emphasis added)
Thus:
ponglIj HIja'neS.
Tell me your name, your honor.
: or
: {ponglIj 'oH nuq?} What is your name?
Since "what" is the subject of the sentence, it has to be tagged with the
subject marker {-'e'} in proper Klingon. E.g.:
Sojvetlh 'oH nuq'e'?
What is that food? PK
Thus:
ponglIj 'oH nuq'e'?
FYI: It appears that you can colloquially omit the pronoun-as-verb when asking
a short, simple question with {nuq}:
Dochvam nuq?
What is this? CK
Daqvam nuq?
What is this place? CK
yIH nuq?
What is a tribble? (st.klingon 7/99)
... or even reverse the order of the nouns:
nuq mI'lIj, tera'ngan?
What is your number, Terran? CK
Thus:
ponglIj nuq, rewbe'?
What's your name, citizen?
--
Voragh
Ca'Non Master of the Klingons