tlhIngan-Hol Archive: Thu Aug 16 00:45:07 2001
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RE: nuq DaHar or nuq boHar tlhIH
Good question. Like many good questions, this one is likely not going to be
consistently answered the same way.
First, the obvious:
If you are talking to one person, you use the singular "You" (bI- Da- ...).
If you are talking to more than one person, you use the plural {Su- bo-
...).
Writing creates special deictic environments. If you are writing to one
individual and maybe others will read it later, but they aren't the one you
are addressing, you use the singular.
If you are writing something that will be read by a group standing together,
aware of each other, simultaneously reading it, then likely you should use
second person plural.
The sticky part is when you are writing to a group, but like this list, each
member will read it separately. In essence, you are cloning a personal
message as if it were to just one, though all receive it.
I'd still consider this to be most accurately done if you used the plural
second person. I think on this list, we are quite often quite sloppy about
this and tend to use singular more often than is called for. I'm sure I do
that myself.
But since you've brought this to my attention, I will try to be more
conscious about it. It would be a particularly useful tool for a reply to an
individual sprinkled with statements intended for reading by the larger
community. I can differentiate in Klingon in a way that English leaves more
vague.
Like this is surprising?
charghwI'
> -----Original Message-----
> From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]]
> Sent: Wednesday, August 15, 2001 3:07 AM
> To: [email protected]
> Subject: nuq DaHar or nuq boHar tlhIH
>
>
> I have a question re an area I have problems with:
>
> When You should be You (pl) or visa versa.
>
> When writing this email I know that it could be read by everyone
> on the List but It could be written as if I was asking an
> individual. Should my YOU be singular or plural.
>
> nuq DaHar SoH or nuq boHar tlhIH
>
> Maybe this email is not a good example but consider prize draw
> notifications e.g. Readers Digest .. They are standard letters
> sent to thousands but written as if they were a personal letter
> from the draw manager to increase their impact.
>
> The idea I have generally used is if the meaning I desire was
> unchanged by saying "you all" in place of the "you" I would use
> the plural you and if not I'd use the singular.
>
> nuq boHar tlhIH - What do YOU-all believe?
> or
> nuq DaHar SoH - What do YOU believe?
>
> Personally I would like to know what you-all believe but I would
> be happy if I only get an answer from YOU (Yes you!.. That's
> right you the one reading this email!).
>
> I can think of other cases where I could be talking to an
> individual but be referring to a group. Talking to a politician
> and asking, "What do you plan to do about this?" I am talking to
> the person as an individual but unless raving would probably be
> referring to his political party.
>
> nuq Har (clipped, as I'm not sure)
>
> qe'San
>