tlhIngan-Hol Archive: Fri Sep 30 09:27:16 2005
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Re: ta
Okrand:
> >> "Fortunately for students of Klingon, it is never incorrect to add
> >> a plural suffix to a noun referring to more than one entity. Even
> >> in those cases where it is unneccessary to do so." (TKD 22)
QeS lagh:
> > "Even in those cases where it is unnecessary"... could that be
> > referring to inherently plural nouns like {cha}, {ngop} and {negh}
> > (thus ?? {chamey}, ??{neghpu'})?
ghunchu'wI':
>No. Adding a plural suffix to those nouns *is* incorrect, the word
>"never" notwithstanding.
Okrand again:
Another grammatical feature of Klingon about which children
frequently become confused involves nouns that are inherently
plural, such as {cha} (torpedoes) and {ngop} (plates [for eating]),
as opposed to their singular counterparts {peng} (torpedo) and
{jengva'} (plate). Instead of using the special plural forms,
children tend forms plurals of these words by simply adding the
plural suffix {-mey} to the singular forms ({pengmey}, {jengva'mey}),
as would be done with most other nouns (except for those referring
to body parts or to beings capable of language, for which {-Du'}
and {-pu'}, respectively, would be used), such as {yuQmey} (planets).
Adults also add {?mey} to these nouns, but they do so to indicate
that the items are scattered about ({jengva'mey}, "plates scattered
all over the place"). For children who say {jengva'mey}, it apparent-
ly means simply "plates"; that is, it is nothing more than the plural
form of {jengva'}. Children seem to be aware of the existence of the
inherently plural forms, however, for they use them as well, though
usually with the suffix {-mey} superfluously appended: {chamey}
("torpedoeses"), {ngopmey} ("plateses"). Inherently plural nouns are
considered singular as far as how they fit into the overall grammatical
structure. Thus, the singular pronoun {'oH} (it) is used for both
{jengva'} (plate) and {ngop} (plates) in sentences such as {nuqDaq
'oH jengva''e'?} ("Where is the plate?") and {nuqDaq 'oH ngop'e'?}
("Where are the plates?"). Children, however, tend to use the plural
pronoun {bIH} (they) with {ngop} (as well as with {jengva'mey} and
the redundantly suffixed {ngopmey}): {nuqDaq bIH ngop'e'?} ("Where
are the plates?"). (KGT 33-34)
--
Voragh
Ca'Non Master of the Klingons