tlhIngan-Hol Archive: Tue Jun 05 13:21:53 2001

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Re: KLBC: 'ol



Patrick wrote:
: >There are some idiomatic phrases which might be appropriate in certain
: >contexts, like {vIHtaH gho}, perhaps signifying a lunch break.  I think
: >{pum 'etlh} could also be understood as meaning that a specific time has
: >arrived.
: >
: >-- ghunchu'wI' 'utlh
: >
: (pum 'etlh)...I've never heard that idiom yet. What does it mean, literally 
: and figuratively? And what source does it come from? (I'm trying to compile 
: a list of idioms, which is why I ask.)

Mark Okrand wrote in one of his infrequent posts to the Paramount-sponsored
newsgroup startrek.klingon (11/05/1999):


In addition to {ngugh}, there is an idiomatic expression involving the suffix
{-DI'} "when, as soon as" used to mean "by that time, by the time that
[something] occurred (or will occur)." The event that has occurred (or will
occur) is typically expressed in the immediately preceding sentence or clause,
though it could have been uttered earlier. The idiom is found in two forms. The
shorter (and more frequently heard) version is the single word {pumDI'} "when
it falls" ({pum} "fall" [that is, "fall down" or "fall off of something"],
{-DI'} "when"). The longer version consists of  {pumDI'} followed by a subject
noun specifying what falls. The most common noun heard is {'etlh} "sword,
blade" (thus: {pumDI' 'etlh}, literally "when the blade falls"). Presumably the
expression originally referred to a fight between two combatants wielding
bladed weapons. The time at which one of them dropped the weapon and was thus
defeated (or was as good as defeated) was a significant moment. Some speakers,
however, are rather creative and use nouns other than {'etlh}. For example:
{pumDI' DaS} "when the boot falls," {pumDI' 'obmaQ} "when the ax falls,"
{pumDI' nagh} "when the stone falls," {pumDI' rutlh} "when the wheel falls."
There seems to be no restriction on what noun may be used here, as long as it
is something that could possibly fall. (Thus *{pumDI' QoQ} when the music
falls" would not be used.) Choosing one noun or another to use in the idiomatic
phrase is a form of word play. Depending on the topic being discussed, the noun
could add a touch of irony or even humor. In any event, the choice of noun does
not change the idiomatic meaning of the phrase. {pumDI' X}, where X is the
subject noun, is used to mean "by then, by that time." The idiom might be used
when talking about a feast that had taken place a few nights ago. If a guest
arrived late -- after the eating had already begun -- one might say something
like: {tagha' pawpu' meb 'ach pumDI' Heghpu' qagh} or: {tagha' pawpu' meb 'ach
pumDI' 'etlh Heghpu' qagh} "The guest finally arrived, but by then the gagh had
died." ... Unlike subordinate clauses in general, [pumDI' X}, when used
idiomatically, always precedes the main clause ({Heghpu' qagh} in the example
above). When idiomatic usage is not involved, subordinate clauses may either
precede or follow the main clause.



-- 
Voragh                       
Ca'Non Master of the Klingons



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