tlhIngan-Hol Archive: Thu Jun 03 06:21:22 2004

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Re: mu' lo' QaQ 'oSbogh mu'tlheghmey

David Trimboli ([email protected]) [KLI Member] [Hol po'wI']

From: <[email protected]>

> I propose the creation of a body of nontrivial example sentences
illustrating
> how each Klingon word can be used.  Many of the sentences could be taken
> directly from canonical sources, but not all words have been used in
canon.  Such
> sentences could also provide a definition of sorts.  Here are some
possible
> sentences based on some of the first words of the KLI's collector card #2,
Verbs
> of Personality.
> boH:  nom qaS Hoch neH boHwI'.
> matlh:  maghbe' matlhwI'.
> Dogh:  qoH Da DoghwI'.
> qej:  Hoch par 'ej bep qejwI'.
> Sey:  be' 'IH vIleghDI' qoj bom chuS vIQoyDI' bISeychoH.
> SeymoH:  jaghmeywI' vIjeyDI' juppu'wI' vISeymoH.
> maw':  Qubchu'be' maw'wI'.
> vID:  pagh meqmo' vay' Suv vIDwI'.
> tlhaQ:  muHaghmoH lut tlhaQ.
>
> Could something like this be put on the wiki?  Is anyone else interested
in
> doing this too?

The problem with creating the list you mention is that the entries would
simply be one person's (or one group's) opinion on the correct way to use
the words.  It might be useful as a teaching tool, but how much more useful
than the actual word lists themselves?

And wouldn't you have to show every possible way to use a word?  You've used
{tlhaQ} adjectivally, but it can also be used as the main verb of a
sentence.  And what about controversial words like {jeS}?  Does it take an
object or not?  Does the list-maker get to decide?  What gives him that
authority?  Or, if the list doesn't represent known facts, what good is the
list?

In studying Klingon, one must learn to make one's own decisions about how
things work.  There are no absolutes, no Klingons with which we may confirm
our opinions, and we can't force others to agree with us.  It's this need to
form an opinion that often stumps the student of Klingon.

SuStel
Stardate 4423.1

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