tlhIngan-Hol Archive: Thu Jan 08 11:12:47 2004

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Re: DCKL translation problems: {puy}

...Paul ([email protected]) [KLI Member] 

On Thu, 8 Jan 2004, Steven Boozer wrote:
> Quvar wrote:
> >{puy} is a verb "wreck"
> >
> >Do I wreck a ship - Duj vIpuy'a' qoj
> >or does the ship wreck - puy'a' Duj?
>
> AFAIK {puy} has never been used in canon, although {puy} does appear in the
> noun {puyjaq} "nova".  But "wreck" requires an object in English.  I've
> never heard it used like your second example -- all of which tells us
> nothing about how {puy} is used in Klingon of course.

wreck does indeed have an intransitive verb form.  From dictionary.com:

v. tr.

   1. To cause the destruction of in or as if in a collision.
   2. To dismantle or raze; tear down.
   3. To cause to undergo ruin or disaster. See Synonyms at blast. See
Synonyms at ruin. See Usage Note at wreak.


v. intr.

   1. To suffer destruction or ruin; become wrecked.
   2. To work as a wrecker.

An example would be "The ship wrecked against the reef."

As for whether or not the Klingon is reflecting a transitive or
intransitive form, that would require canon, which we don't have.  I would
personally presume it to be transitive, given no other information to go
on.  The transitive form is definitely more common in English.

...Paul

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