tlhIngan-Hol Archive: Fri Nov 16 07:31:02 2007
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Re: suffixes on adjectival verbs
Qang qu'wI' wrote:
>Well, I'm getting back into tlhIngan Hol after a long break, and I
>just read something in TKD that surprised me. It states pretty
>clearly that only {-qu'} can be used on verbs used adjectivally.
>Until reading that, I likely would have used {-be'} as well without
>thinking about it. Does TKD have the final word regarding using only
>{-qu'}, or is there any subsequent canon that amends TKD to also allow
>{-be'}?
Here's TKD's (somewhat edited) description of {-be'}:
This is the general suffix of negation, translated as English "not".
It follows the concept being negated. ... {qay'be'} "it's not a
problem, no problem" (exclamation) ... The suffix {-be'} cannot be
used with imperative verbs... [{-Qo}'] is used in imperatives and
to denote refusal. [TKD 46f.]
Note the example provided: {qay'be'} ("{qay'} "be a problem" + {-be'}
negation). More examples of {-be'} on qualities (adjectival verbs) from
canon show this wasn't an error:
bIlughbe'
You are wrong. TKD
wa'maH yIHmey lI'be'
ten useless tribbles. CK
jIDoy'be'
I am not tired! PK
tera'ngan motlhbe' SoH
You are an unusual Terran. PK
yIntaHvIS qIrq DuHbe' roj
There will be no peace as long as Kirk lives. (ST5 notes)
'utbe' bel
Pleasure is nonessential. TKW
nI'be' yInmaj 'ach wovqu'
Our lives burn short and bright. (Anthem)
HoD QaQbe' ghaH; reH to'waQ yIv
He/she is not a good captain; he/she always "chews ligament". KGT
taQ pagh taQbe'
To be weird or not to be weird. KGT
QuchlIj vIl law'be' QuchwIj vIl puSbe'
your forehead isn't ridgier than my forehead (HQ 13.1:10)
It's likely that Okrand considered {-be'} such an obviously useful and
common suffix that he forgot that he had inadvertently disallowed it.
--
Voragh
Ca'Non Master of the Klingons