tlhIngan-Hol Archive: Thu Jan 25 13:05:54 2001
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RE: Grammar Highlight Each Day (net + -lu')
- From: Eric Andeen <[email protected]>
- Subject: RE: Grammar Highlight Each Day (net + -lu')
- Date: Thu, 25 Jan 2001 14:03:48 -0700
peHruS:
: When the pronoun {net} refers back to a previous sentence as the object
: of the verb, that verb may not take the type 5 suffix {-lu'}.
Voragh:
--------------------------------------
Wrong. That verb - called by Okrand the "second verb" in his explanation in
TKD p. 65f. - may not take a Type *7* (aspect) suffix:
"Klingon has two special pronouns, {'e'} and {net}, which refer to
the previous sentence as a whole. They are used primarily, though
not exclusively, with verbs of thinking or observation (such as
know, see). They are always treated as the object of the verb, and
the verb always takes a prefix indicating a third-person singular
object. What is a single sentence in English is often two sentences
in Klingon. {net} is used only under special circumstances, but
{'e'} is common... In complex sentences of this type, the second
verb never takes an aspect suffix."
... a rule even Okrand has violated on occasion. I can find no mention of
any
other suffix types being disallowed. Where do you derive this "rule" from?
Certainly not from observation, as we have only two canonical examples with
{net}, both discussed in TKD (loc. cit.):
qama'pu' DIHoH net Sov
One knows we kill prisoners. TKD
Qu'vaD lI' net tu'bej
One certainly finds it useful for the mission. TKD
"You will find it useful." (ST3 subtitles)
Now if you look at {'e'} which is more common than and, as far as we know,
works the same as {net}, we find:
yInlu'taH 'e' bajnISlu'
Survival must be earned. TKW
yay chavlu' 'e' bajnISlu'
Victory must be earned. TKW
Using {-lu'} on the second verb of a SAO may be poor style in your opinion,
but
it is grammatical. Or have I missed something?
------------------------------------------------
Note that in both of the last two examples, there's a <-lu'> on the first
verb. My theory is that while <... net X> is generally preferred to <... 'e'
X-lu'>, when there's a <-lu'> on the first verb the parallel use of <-lu'>
on the second verb is better style.
pagh