[tlhIngan Hol] ghelwI'

[Steven Boozer]

A {ghelwI'} could also be a device:  e.g. an automated instruction machine (we saw one asking the resurrected Spock questions in ST4) or that part of an automatic teller (cash point) that asks you for your PIN number (the one I use "speaks" both English and Spanish!).

I agree with Lieven, *{ghelwI' / jangwI'} as "question/answer" feels wrong.  Is an utterance a "thing which does X" in Klingon?  {mutlhegh}, {mu'},  {wot}, {DIp} and {chuvmey} are probably referred to as {'oH / bIH} - they're obviously not sentient - but I'm not sure if that's the same thing.

ghel pagh ghelbe'.  DaH mu'tlheghvam vIqelnIS.   <g>

--Voragh

-----Original Message-----
From: Lieven

Am 05.09.2017 um 15:16 schrieb mayqel qunenoS:
> I didn't know this; so the translation of {-wI'} is "-er", regardless 
> it refers to a person or an object ?

No, I didn't say that. It was a hint to remember. TKD says that "The English suffix "-er" [...] is a rough equivalent."

Plese check my other mail where I explain that the subject of {ghel} seems to be the person who is asking.

Regarding your question on {-wI'}, there are many words which can have double meanings - maybe even all. For instance, a {ghItlhwI'} can be a pen, but also a person who writes. A {DuDwI'} is described as a mixer, but of course it can be a person who is mixing the sauce.

So theoretically, the {ghelwI'} might indeed be a sentence, but it just sounds strange. The sentence does not ask the question, it IS the question. I wouldn't use that unless Maltz tells us that it's okay to do so.

--
Lieven L. Litaer
aka Quvar valer 'utlh