tlhIngan-Hol Archive: Thu Aug 15 09:00:26 2002

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Re: puS and law'



> i was thinking about this sentence:
> reH latlh qabDaq qul tuj law' Hoch tuj puS.
> 
> i cannot analize this sentence correctly.
> "always at other face the heat of fire is more, the heat of 
> everything is less."
> 
> is /qul/ a noun or a verb?

Noun.


> here another example:
> 
> qIbDaq SuvwI''e' SoH Dun law' Hoch Dun puS.
> 
> i would expect something like:
> */Dun SoH law' Dun Hoch puS/
> is there a rule or is it an exception that the verb /Dun/ comes after 
> the subject /SoH/ respectivly /Hoch/?

The law'/puS comparative is a special construction all it's own.
TKD Sec 6.6 p70:
>>>

6.6. Comparatives and superlatives

The idea of something being more or greater than something
else (comparative) is expressed by means of a construction
which can be represented by the following formula:

  A Q {law'} B Q {puS}

In this formula, A and B are the two things being compared
and Q is the quality which is being measured. The two
Klingon words in the formula are {law'} <be many> and {puS} <be
few.> Thus, it says <A's Q is many, B's Q is few> or <A has more Q
than B has> or <A is Q-er than B.>
  Any verb expressing a quality or condition may fit into the
Q slot.

    {la' jaq law' yaS jaq puS} <The commander is bolder than
                               the officer.>
                               ({la'} <commander,> {jaq} <be bold,> {yaS}
                               <officer>)

  To express the superlative, that something is the most or
the greatest of all, the noun {Hoch} <all> is used in the B position:

    {la' jaq law' Hoch jaq puS} <The commander is boldest
                                of all.>

In comparative and superlative constructions, the verb of
quality ({jaq} <be bold> in the sentences above) must be said
twice.

<<<


DloraH, BG


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