tlhIngan-Hol Archive: Tue Jan 03 08:27:15 2006
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Re: KLBC DIS chu'
Now that our new BG has answered, I can add my two darseks. <g>
Philip Scott:
> > That's very helpful especially concerning more
> > than one adjective qualifying a noun and preempts a
> > question I was going to ask about adjectives. What
> > has been confusing me is that klingon adjectives are
> > verbs. So
> >
> > valbogh loD 'ej qanbogh
> > ('wise old man' lit. 'man who is intelligent and
> > old')
> >
> > would subsequent adjectives be joined on with 'ej?
> >
> > valbogh loD 'ej qanbogh 'ej Quchbogh 'ej pivbogh
> > ('wise, old, happy, healthy, man' it sounds a bit
> > unnatural in English)
In English, perhaps, but probably not in Klingon. Other examples:
romuluSngan Sambogh 'ej HoHbogh nejwI'
Romulan hunter-killer probe. KCD
SuDbogh Dargh 'ej wovbogh
The tea that is SuD and light. KGT
(for "light green" or "yellow tea")
I can't think of any examples with three or more qualities linked with {'ej}.
ter'eS:
>Another alternative I like to use with paired adjectives isn't strictly canon
>but seems to have general acceptance: {valbogh loD qan} "a wise old man".
I've considered that method too, although I can't think of any examples in
canon.
> > The comments you made regarding word choice ('Quch, ghaj)
> > make total sense now that you mention it.
>
>Except that ghunchu'wI' reminds me of the canon phrase {DIch vIghaj} "have
>certainty, be certain"!
AFAIK it's not canon, though it has been used here for years. In my notes
*{DIch vIghaj} "I'm sure. I'm certain" is marked as having been coined by
Krankor on the model of {pIch vIghajbe'} "It's not my fault" from the TKD
List of Useful Phrases. Personally, I like it and have used it myself as
it's pithier than putting {-bej} on another verb.
>(And I used the phrase {pung vIghaj} in my first post as BG). But it still
>feels wrong to me with "year". Many languages make a distinction between
>possessible and non-possessible nouns. Maybe {DIch} is seen as a
>sensation that can be possessed by an individual, while it doesn't seem
>to me that anyone can possess a year.
More examples of {ghaj} used metaphorically with a non-tangible object:
Hov ghajbe'bogh ram rur pegh ghajbe'bogh jaj
A day without secrets is like a night without stars. PK
quv lughaj Archer HoD beqDaj je.
Captain Archer and his crew are honorable people. (ENT "The Augments")
tlham ghaj
"have gravity" [slang for "have structure, order" (KGT 165)]
It's antonym {Hutlh} "lack, be without" can work the same way:
tlham Hutlh
"lack gravity" (slang for "lack structure, order") (KGT 165)
nab Hutlh 'ach vang
He/she lacks a plan, but he/she takes action (i.e. He/she improvises) KGT
quv Hutlh
lack honor (KGT 155)
quv Hutlh HoHbogh tlhIngan 'ach qabDaj 'angbe'bogh
A Klingon who kills without showing his face has no honor. TKW
'ang'eghQo' quv Hutlhbogh jagh neH ghobtaHvIS ghaH
Only an enemy without honor refuses to show himself in battle. TKW
--
Voragh
Ca'Non Master of the Klingons