[tlhIngan Hol] Klingon Word of the Day: matlhHa'

[Lieven]

Am 20.09.2016 um 08:24 schrieb mayqel qunenoS:
> Thinking this over today with a clear mind, I continue being unable to
> grasp how {vay'} is definite while {-lu'} is abstract. Both refer to
> an unknown person. Unknown, by definition, is abstract and
> indefinite..

I know it'S hard to understand, as these are very close to each other. 
Maybe some more examples can clarify.

A person rings at the door. You do not know who it is, but you know 
there is someobody, so it's not indefinite. {wab chenmoH vay'}
There are some people in the room who hear the sound of the bell. You 
can say {wab luQoy} "they hear the sound", but in a way of storytelling 
you can say {wab Qoylu'} "One hears the sound" or "a sound can be heard".

One othor, more frequently used form is the expression {tu'lu'}, usually 
tanslated as "there is". Literally it means "one [indefinite] discovers" 
- it does not mean that somebody does discover things:

{tlhInganpu' tu'lu'} "there are Klingons here" = "a not specified, 
generel person does discover Klingons" = "one can find Klingons here"

{tlhInganpu' tu' vay'} "somebody, a real, existing person, discovers 
Klingons" (you could give that person a name if you know him)

Hope this helps a bit.


-- 
Lieven L. Litaer
aka Quvar valer 'utlh
Grammarian of the KLI
http://www.facebook.com/Klingonteacher
http://www.klingonwiki.net/En/ThereIs