tlhIngan-Hol Archive: Fri Oct 05 10:23:15 2001
[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next]
Re: ASAP
peHruS wrote:
: How do I express?
:
: The warrior runs as fast as possible.
nom qetqu' SuvwI'.
{qetchu'} might also work, but that might well refer to the warrior's form or
style of running (i.e. in the Klingon Olympics).
: Return to the bridge as soon as possible!
tugh meH yIcheghqu'!
nom meH yIcheghqu'!
I use as my model:
nom yIghoSqu'!
Maximum speed. ST5
which could be translated as "Proceed as quickly as possible!"
Since we cannot freely modify the adverbial we must modify the verb which the
adverbial modifies in order to create a complete thought. {-qu'} "emphatic" is
deceptively simple, but it's really a very flexible and sometimes overlooked
suffix when applied to action verbs. (When it follows qualities, or verbs
functioning adjectivally, it's usually translated as "very".) In these cases,
{-qu'} is often rendered into English by using one or more adverbs or
explanatory phrases, such as "as X as possible". E.g.:
naDev Dochvetlh qemqu'!
I really mean it this time! Bring that here! PK
qara'qu'
That's an order. (MO's ST5 notes)
I really like the subtlety here. With the addition of but a single syllable
you raise these orders to a whole other level of intensity, one with an implied
threat.
maHeghbejqu'
It's certain death. (MO's ST5 notes)
tIqIpqu' 'ej nom tIqIp
Hit them hard and hit them fast. TKW
pInaDqu' tuqlIj wInaDqu' je
Glory to you and your house.
("We praise you highly; we also praise your house highly") KGT
yIHaDqu'
Study him well. TKD
I would have expected *{yIHaDchu'} here, but {-qu'} may refer to the intensity
of study, not its thoroughness or completeness. However, compare this to
{yInajchu'} "Dream well!" (lit. "Dream perfectly!") in KGT (p.112).
pa' reH maSuvtaHqu'
[there] we battle forever. (Anthem)
Note that the sense of {-qu'} is lost in translation here. Using {-chu'} with
this verb would imply something entirely different: "From the Klingon point of
view, {Suvchu'} ('fight perfectly') is 'fight to the death'." (KGT 49).
bIQapqu'meH ...
To really succeed... TKW
Again, I might have expected *{bIQapchu'meH}. Okrand in HolQeD 2.4: "If it's
a decisive or particularly gratifying victory, they'd say {Qapchu'}, even
though that's a bit redundant." See also {Qapchu'meH 'aqroS chuq} "maximum
effective range" in KBoP.
Something that bears further study is the subtle differences between {-qu'} and
{-chu'}, particularly WRT action verbs. I would imagine that with some verbs,
an idiomatic (i.e. not predictable according to the "rules") has developed over
time or in certain contexts.
--
Voragh
Ca'Non Master of the Klingons