tlhIngan-Hol Archive: Fri Jul 12 10:46:17 2002
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RE: New Words
> qurgh asked:
> > > ghorgh HolQeD ngeHpu' KLI?
>
> KLI = Klingon Language Institute = tlhIngan Hol yejHaD
>
> > > I haven't got mine yet, and I'm guessing it's the mail service, but
> > > when was it sent?
>
> DloraH, BG answered:
> >I got mine tuesday. I guess some people got it last week.
> >
> >As for the klingon question, because of the -pu', I could answer DaHjaj,
> >because today, the task is completed. If you want to know what day it
> >was actually sent, then don't use -pu' (or -ta').
>
> No, qurgh is correct. Sending {ngeH}, delivering {HIj} and receiving {Hev}
> are separate acts even though they can be viewed as part of a
> continuum. The action of sending the HolQeDs has been completed. Sometime
> in the last two weeks Lawrence has (presumably) delivered all of them to
>
> the post office for them, in turn, to deliver to the subscribers. The fact
> that qurgh hasn't received his issue yet is irrelevant (at least WRT
> grammar).
>
> We even have an example of this distinction from ST5:
>
> vaj toDDujDaj ngeHbej DIvI'.
> That means the Federation will be sending a rescue ship of its own.
>
> Action not completed; in fact, the action hasn't even been started. The
>
> ship has not been sent out yet, although the Federation will surely
> send it {ngeHbej} soon.
>
> nImbuS wejDaq 'ejDo' 'entepray' ngeHlu'pu'.
> The starship Enterprise has been dispatched to Nimbus III.
>
> Action completed. The ship has been sent {ngeHlu'pu'}, the Enterprise is
> on its way. The fact that it hasn't completed its voyage and arrived at
>
> Nimbus III yet is irrelevant.
If qurgh made the *statement* /HolQeD ngeHpu' KLI/, yes, it would be correct.
But he asked "when". With -pu' on his "when" question, we can answer with any
day in the past week, because for the past week that task has been completed.
If I answer "yesterday", it is corrct grammaticly, but it doesn't help him. He
want's to know what day the action DID take place, no -pu'.
DloraH, BG