[tlhIngan Hol] I've had it with the finger verbs !

[Christopher Kidder-Mostrom]

The finger verbs are some of my favorite parts of Klingon.  Over the last
few years much that has happened in Klingon development has made it more
like English.  That makes me sad.  I prefer the parts of the language that
are most intentionally "alien".

On Mon, Aug 1, 2016 at 7:13 AM, David Holt <kenjutsuka at live.com> wrote:

> In English we do not number the fingers. If you said something about the
> fourth finger to a native English speaker, they would probably take a
> moment to process it and, though they would almost certainly guess
> correctly, they would not necessarily be confident that they got it correct.
>
> The fingers are, in order, thumb, indeed finger, middle finger, ring
> finger, little finger/pinky.
>
> The toes, however, get neither names nor numbers. You have to describe
> them or point to them. As a physician, myself, I do number them from 1 to
> 5, but it's not always helpful to use the numbers with my patients.  I can
> reliably call the first toe the "big toe" and the fifth toe the "little
> toe" (I have heard it called "pinky toe", but without the word "toe" the
> word "pinky" only refers to the finger). If I say middle toe, the patients
> usually understand me fine. For the other two toes, I usually say, the toe
> next to the big toe and the toe next to the little toe.
>
> To help you remember the names of the toes, do you know the baby game
> which starts "This little piggy went to market"?
>
> Jeremy
>
> From: mayqel qunenoS
> Sent: Monday, August 1, 4:13 AM
> Subject: [tlhIngan Hol] I've had it with the finger verbs !
> To: tlhIngan Hol mailing list
>
> When we talk about fingers at earth, we use this numbering : thumb or
> great toe = number one and THEN we say second finger/toe, third finger/toe
> etc. So, look at this and tell me what to think : {Qay'} (v) = use the
> little toe {qan} (v) = use the pinkie. Is the pinkie and the little toe the
> same ? Why can't we have a jay' clear and unambiguous numbering which could
> resolve this ? Perhaps I should flush the finger verbs down the toilet,
> together with the "mother's sister's husband daughter go figure" words..
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-- 
*Christopher Kidder-Mostrom*

*Current Projects: *

   - *Drama Critic:* reviewing for *Theatre By Numbers
   <http://www.theatre1234.com>*
   - *Translator/Playwright:* *A Fiery Young Man: or, An Incendiary Lover* --
   June 18 @ 2 p.m. -- Commedia Beauregard @ Sulzer Regional Library (4455
   N Lincoln Ave, Chicago)
   - *Board Member:* Illinois Theatre Association - Professional Division
   Rep

<http://www.christopherokidder.com>
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