tlhIngan-Hol Archive: Tue Sep 23 18:08:11 2003
[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next]
Re: Klingon Radio
On Tue, 23 Sep 2003, Spencer Daniel wrote:
> I want to say "Only weaklings negotiate using diplomacy. Men negotiate
> using swords."
> But the problem here is that I'm not sure how to modify the verb "to
> negotiate" <Sutlh> with what, in English, would be "with ____" or "using
> ____". This is what I got right now:
>
> <ghar Sutlh toDSaHpu' neH. 'etlhmey Sutlh toDpu'.>
>
> But this seems like it might just make out "diplomacy" and "swords" to be
> the direct objects of "negotiate". Any suggestions?
You're looking for -meH, I believe. :)
gharmeH Sutlh pujwI' neH. gharmeH yan SuvwI'.
"Only weaklings negotiate (in order) to conduct diplomacy. A warrior
wields a sword (in order) to conduct diplomacy."
I'm not sure why you used /toDSaH/ (a curse word) for 'weakling', or
/toDpu'/ for "men". The latter is nearly outright wrong; no form of /toD
(or its variations) are "beings capable of language".
Also, it may be unnecessary to repeat /gharmeH/, since the context is
pretty clear without it:
gharmeH Sutlh pujwI' neH. yan SuvwI'.
"Only weaklings negotiate in order to conduct diplomacy. Warriors wield a
sword."
> Also, a note on my use of <toDSaH>....using official Klingon profanity is
> funnier on air than making up some -wI construction (<pujwI'> would have
> been my guess), so I tried to guess which one might mean something closest
We don't really have a good idea what /toDSaH/ really means -- and I would
be hesitant to use a noun suffix on it, since we don't have any reference
(that I know of) that specifically indicates it's a noun. If you want
more of a slang intention, we do have evidence of /Hom/ (normally a
diminutive suffix) being used alone as a noun.
...Paul
** Have a question that reality just can't answer? **
** Visit Project Galactic Guide http://www.galactic-guide.com/ **
"Qapla'!"