tlhIngan-Hol Archive: Tue Sep 01 12:25:42 2009
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RE: Doctoral project on the Klingon language
- From: Steven Boozer <[email protected]>
- Subject: RE: Doctoral project on the Klingon language
- Date: Tue, 1 Sep 2009 14:23:27 -0500
- Accept-language: en-US
- Acceptlanguage: en-US
- In-reply-to: <[email protected]>
- References: <[email protected]>
- Thread-index: AcorNPa9AfhSKJzbT0KxFpUMvFE4qQAAVVcw
- Thread-topic: Doctoral project on the Klingon language
Thorwald Peeters writes:
>> QaHlaHlu', QaHlu' (I think... "when one can help, one helps")
lay'tel SIvten:
>pagh: QaHlaHlu'mo' QaHlu'
Unfortunately {-laH} and {-lu'} are both Type 5 suffixes and can't be used together. There are, of course, the "totally artificial, made-up suffixes" {-luH} or {-la'} (described in TKD p.181) but, as Okrand warns:
No one accepts such constructions as grammatical; their
inappropriateness, the way they grate on the Klingon ear,
is exactly what gives them elocutionary clout. A visitor
may hear one of these odd suffixes occasionally, but, as
with other intentionally ungrammatical forms, it is best
to avoid using them until one is extremely comfortable
with the nuances of Klingon style. [TKD 181]
When translating phrases with the indefinite subject "one" I almost always use {bI-} or {Da-}, both of which are commonly seen in Klingon {vIttlheghmey}:
bI'IQchugh yIvang.
If you are sad, act! TKW
bISutlhnISchugh jaghlI' mInDu' tIbej.
If you must negotiate, watch your enemy's eyes. TKW
bIlujlaHbe'chugh bIQaplaHbe'.
If you cannot fail, you cannot succeed. TKW
bItuHlaHbe'chugh bIquvlaHbe'
If you cannot be shamed, you cannot be honored. TKW
bIHeghvIpchugh bIHeghpu'.
If you are afraid to die, you have already died. TKW
DabuQlu'DI' yISuv.
When threatened, fight. TKW
tlhIngan quv DatIchDI' Seng yIghuH.
When you insult a Klingon's honor, prepare for trouble. TKW
bIQapqu'meH tar DaSop 'e' DatIvnIS.
To really succeed, you must enjoy eating poison. TKW
vay' DaghIjlaHchugh bIHoSghaj.
Fear is power. TKW
In fact, every one of these could easily have been translated "if one [does X]" with no loss in meaning. And so:
bIQaHchugh, yIQaH!
bIQaHmo', yIQaH!
vay' DaQaHchugh, yIQaH!
vay' DaQaHmo', yIQaH!
When one can help, one helps. <g>
--
Voragh
Canon Master of the Klingons