tlhIngan-Hol Archive: Thu Jan 12 13:26:22 2006
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Re: easy question
Quvar asks:
>When I talk about four soldiers, would it be better to say {loS negh} or
>{loS mangpu'}? What would be the difference?
{mang} is used when the warrior under discussion is described
in terms of his membership in a fighting unit (for example, as
a crew member on an attack cruiser). Perhaps for this reason
it is sometimes translated "soldier". The usual plural form
of {mang} is a different word altogether: {negh} ("warriors,
soldiers"). The word {mangpu'} is seldom used, but it is not
ungrammatical. It carries with it the notion that there are
individuals (more than one {mang}) making up the group; {negh}
focuses on the group as a unit... All of the {negh} together
make up something called a {mangghom}. [KGT 49f]
I don't think Okrand has ever used a number with one of those nouns with a
different plural form, but I would opt for {loS mangpu'} if the actual
number is important, particularly if it's a relatively low number. E.g.:
lojmItlIj HurDaq cha' mang(pu') tu'lu' 'e' DaSov'a'?
Did you know there are two soldiers outside your door?
--
Voragh
Ca'Non Master of the Klingons