tlhIngan-Hol Archive: Tue Jul 02 10:05:11 2013
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Re: [Tlhingan-hol] {neH} after {-logh} or {ben}
De'vID:
> We know that {neH} can follow verbs or nouns. Can it follow a
> number suffixed with {-logh}? For example, {wa'logh neH qIp}.
> This is different than {wa'logh qIp neH}, which trivialises the
> hitting. What about {ben} or other time elements, which are
> nouns? Would you understand {cha' ben neH qalegh}? Or does it
> have to be {cha' neH ben qalegh}?
Good question. There's no evidence that {neH} can follow a number (although there's no known prohibition), let alone an adverbial.
TKD 56f.: One word fits somewhat awkwardly into this category: {neH} "only, merely, just". Unlike the other adverbials, it follows the verb which it modifies. The semantic effect is one of trivializing the action:
{qama' vIqIppu' neH} "I merely hit the prisoner."
{Duj yIQotlh neH} "Just disable the ship!"
Also unlike the other adverbials, {neH} can follow a noun. In such cases, it means "only, alone".
{yaS neH} "only the officer, the officer alone"
{jonta' neH} "only the engine"
I can find only one example of {neH} being used with a number, and it follows the actual noun:
wa' DoS neH yIbuS
Focus on but one target. TKW
Since we know that numbers can be used in sentences by themselves (i.e. not modifying a noun)...
wa' yIHoH. jISaHbe'.
Kill one of them. I don't care which. ST3
... I wouldn't squawk if I saw:
? wa' neH yIHoH "Kill just one (of them)." (ONLY one, not all)
vs.
wa' yIHoH neH "Just kill one (of them)" (e.g. without torturing him first)
It's not a number, but I also found an example of {neH} being used with one of the "quantity" qualities {pus} "be few, be several":
veymey puS neH chenmoHlu'pu'
Limited Edition. ("Only a few {vey} have been made.") MKE
OTOH since {ben} "years ago" *is* a noun, I don't see any grammatical objections to {cha' ben neH qalegh}. Not only is {ben} used as a time stamp, it can also modify another noun:
cha'vatlh ben HIq vItlhutlh
I will drink Two Century Old Ale. PK
--
Voragh
Ca'Non Master of the Klingons
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