tlhIngan-Hol Archive: Mon Jul 15 10:51:56 2002
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Re: grammar question
Stephan Schneider:
> > is there a difference?
> > Sam = locate
> > nejlI' = to search until the end
SuStel:
>There certainly is! /Sam/ means "seek and find." It is neutral with
>respect to aspect (it's not completed or in progress). It implies that
>the object of the verb is, in fact, found at some point.
Or, at least, is expected to be found. The best example showing the
difference between {Sam} and {nej} comes from "The Klingon Way":
'avwI' nejDI' narghta'bogh qama' reH 'avwI' Sambej
When an escaped prisoner looks for a guard, he always finds one.
Another good example was seen in the KCD game:
romuluSngan Sambogh 'ej HoHbogh nejwI'
a Romulan hunter-killer probe [device]
Other examples of {Sam} "locate, seek and find" in canon are:
cheng'e' DaH Sam!
Find Chang. ST6
HaqwI''e' DaH yISam
Find the SURGEON now! TKD
Qel vISamnIS.
I need to find a doctor. CK
motlh ray' luSamlaHmeH De' Qatlh cha' tlhIngan Duj jIH'a'
The main viewer on a Klingon ship is usually overlaid with a complex
target acquisition grid. SP3
HIq DaSammeH tach yI'el
To find ale, go into a bar. TKW
yIvoq 'ach lojmItmey yISam
Trust, but locate the doors. TKW
chotwI' DaSamjaj
May you find the murderer. KGT
>/nejlI'/ means "search for continuously (with a definite stopping point)."
>It is an action in progress. It does not imply that the object of the verb
>is indeed found, but neither does it prohibit this. It also does not
>necessarily imply that the finding of the object is the definite stopping
>point. (Maybe I have a time limit on my search, for instance: ngabpu'
>lupDujHom. 'oH nejlI' 'entepray'. 'ach HovpoH cha' chorgh cha' wej vI'
>chorgh mejnIS Duj. "The shuttlecraft has disappeared. The Enterprise is
>searching for it. But the ship needs to leave at Stardate 2823.8.")
Examples of {nej} "look for, seek, search for" in canon:
vInejqa'
I am resuming the search. I am searching for him/her again. TKD
jagh luHoHmeH jagh lunejtaH
They are searching for the enemy in order to kill him. TKD
A {nejwI'} is a probe, a device sent out to search for something, but with
no firm expectation of finding it (although one can always hope):
nejwI' tIQ 'oH.
[It's] A probe of ancient origin. ST5
A related verb is {ghoch} "track, track down".
--
Voragh
Ca'Non Master of the Klingons