[tlhIngan Hol] does {yay'} have a positive or a negative meaning ?

[Felix Malmenbeck]

> PUN: "Or one could say... 'bowled over'. ({Duq} also means a small bowl.)" (Felix, 7/20/2017)


I believe this was actually suggested by nIqolay Q, and on the 31st of July (thread: qep'a' cha'maH loSDIch New words and some tidbits); I think I've heard the phrase "bowled over" once or twice, but it isn't something I would've come up with :)

//Felix


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From: tlhIngan-Hol <tlhingan-hol-bounces at lists.kli.org> on behalf of Steven Boozer <sboozer at uchicago.edu>
Sent: Tuesday, October 29, 2019 17:04
To: tlhingan-hol at kli.org
Subject: Re: [tlhIngan Hol] does {yay'} have a positive or a negative meaning ?

Dumbfounded means to be so surprised as to be left speechless, i.e. "dumb" as in the phrase "deaf and dumb".  It's not inherently positive or negative, but rather that the surprise or shock is so sudden or profound that it temporarily "discombobulates" you (another good word to look it up in M-W).

About the verb {Duq} "be stunned" (also "be astonished, astounded, dumbfounded, shocked") revealed at qep'a' 2017:

(qurgh, 7/29/2017):  [Okrand] also said about {Duq} and {yay'}, which have similar meanings, that they are synonyms but {Duq} tends to be more so than {yay'}.

PUN: "Or one could say... 'bowled over'. ({Duq} also means a small bowl.)" (Felix, 7/20/2017)

SEE ALSO:
mer                       surprise [someone]
mIS                       be confused, mixed up

--
Voragh
Ca'Non Master of the Klingons

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From: mayqel qunen'oS

The verb {yay'} is given as "be shocked, dumbfounded".
As I read in m-w, the verb "shocked", is usually used for something, which upsets people.
And as far as the "dumbfounded" goes, I couldn't make sense, whether it has an inherent positive or negative meaning.
So, does someone know, if {yay'} is to be used only for pleasant or only for unpleasant surprises ?

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