tlhIngan-Hol Archive: Wed Nov 26 09:42:58 2003
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{ghel} vs. {tlhob} vs. {yu'} [was Re: KLBC nuqneH!]
Quvar:
> > {yu'} is a verb "question, interrogate", not a noun.
> > We have no noun for "a question".
Senara:
>Can you explain me the difference between the words "tlhob", "yu'" and "ghel"?
You're not alone in wondering how these verbs are used:
In the original edition of TKD, we have {tlhob} "ask". The addendum
gave it the expanded meaning of "request, ask, plead". Now KGT gives
us {ghel} "ask (a question)". Which one do we use as a verb of saying,
and why? Is there a proper way to use either or both in a non-saying
way? [ghunchu'wI']
What I wanted to do with {tlhob} and {ghel} is to distinguish between
two different meanings for the English verb "ask". There are two
"ask's". There's the "ask" where you ask a question and there's "ask"
where you make a request. I wanted it to be two different verbs, though
apparently there are times when the "request" verb is used to ask a
question as well. So maybe the way it works is that {ghel} can ask a
question and only as a question and the other one can mean that and is
also used to request or plead or something like that. [Okrand, HQ 7:4]
tlhob ask, request, plead
lutlhob «naDevvo' vaS'a'Daq majaHlaH'a'?»
They ask him, "Can we get to the Great Hall from here?" PK
juDev 'ej Dujvam ra'wI' DagheS 'e' vItlhob
I ask you to lead us as commander of this ship
("I request that you lead us and that you assume the duties of commander
of this ship.") KGT
qatlhob
I ask you. STC:KLS
ghel ask (a question) KGT
[no known examples]
yu' question, interrogate
qayu'
I interrogate you. STC:KLS
Although not mentioning {yu'} explicitly, this bit of slang from KGT may be
relevant:
This verb [{luH}] literally means "yank" and is used in such sentences
as {jav luHpu' 'avwI'} ("The guard has caused a prisoner to confess"--
literally, "The guard has yanked a six"). Standard words expressing the
same notions are {DISmoH} ("cause to confess") and {peghHa'moH} ("cause
to not keep a secret"). (KGT 153)
--
Voragh
Ca'Non Master of the Klingons