tlhIngan-Hol Archive: Mon Mar 01 14:08:46 2004

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Re: less predictable compound words in tkd+addendum

Teresh000 ([email protected]) [KLI Member] 

ghItlh lay'tel SIvten:
> 
> tkd also has 53 words and 7 phrases whose meanings are essentially the sum of 
> their components' meanings, but tkd gives no information on how to form 
> compound words (beyond stating that they occur and giving a few examples).  thus 
> these words provide us with new information, namely how simple words can combine 
> to form other words.  unfortunately, only someone who already knows the 
> meaning of the words (such as a native speaker) can give the meaning of the 
> compound.
> six of the phrases are of the noun-noun type.  thus they form a small group 
> with fairly predictable meaning per tkd.  they are:  Hergh QaywI', reghuluS 
> 'Iwghargh, tlhIngan Hubbeq, tlhIngan wo', woj choHwI', 'orghen(ya') rojmab.
> the remaining phrase is of the noun-adjective (where adjective means a verb 
> in conclusion, the primary part of speech for forming compound nouns is the 
> noun, followed by the noun/verb, and then the verb.  presumably the noun/verb 
> is midway because of its dual nature.  the three parts of speech can occur in 
> either position, initial or final, in a word.  thus compound words have a 
> relatively free structure, in which any word of appropriate meaning can be used 
> wherever it makes sense.  verbs tend not to occur in the final position, but we 
> do have a few examples of it.  what we don't have is any 
> example, at least in 
> tkd, of a verb-verb compound.  
> 
> 

Where do we find {chuS'ugh}?

-- ter'eS

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