tlhIngan-Hol Archive: Tue Sep 24 17:11:32 2002
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RE: Canon: choH, tagh -- KLBG
SIqar asks:
>What does transitive and non transitive mean?
Whether or not a verb can take a direct object or, in terms of descriptive
Klingon grammar, whether you can or cannot use the set of object prefixes
with a given verb. Etymologically, the meaning of a transitive verb
transits - or crosses over - to the direct object in order to render an
entire thought. E.g.:
Qu' DataghDI' 'aqtu' mellota' je yIqaw
When you begin a mission, remember Aktuh and Mellota. TKW
Transitive: {Qu'} is the direct object of {tagh}: What do you begin? You
begin the mission.
Transitive: {'aqtu' mellota' je} is the direct object of {qaw}: Whom do
you remember? You remember Aktuh and Mellota (characters from a famous
Klingon opera).
taghbej mu'qaD veS
Curse-warfare has definitely begun. PK
Intransitive: there is no direct object, only a subject. What
begins? Curse-warfare begins.
Sometimes verbs which are transitive in one language are intransitive in
another. To confuse matters, transitive verbs can be used intransitively;
that is, they don't have to take on object when speaking generally. E.g.:
DaH jIlaD.
I'm reading now.
vs.
DaH Okrand paq chu' vIlaD.
Now I'm reading Okrand's new book.
--
Voragh
Ca'Non Master of the Klingons