[tlhIngan Hol] {-pu'} vs {-ta'} on verbs of speech

[SuStel]

On 4/20/2020 8:55 AM, mayqel qunen'oS wrote:
>
> Unless someone:
>
>
> a. talks in his sleep
>
> b. is drunk/intoxicated
>
> c. is being possessed by the devil
>
>
> then I think that *always* we can use {-ta'} instead of {-pu'} to 
> refer to the event of speech which has taken place.
>
>
> So, we can say {jatlhta'} instead of {jatlhpu'}, {ja'ta'} instead of 
> {ja'pu'}, and (although they don't typically qualify as verbs of 
> speech) {ghelta'} and {jangta'}.
>
>
> With the exception of the three cases already mentioned, people talk 
> intentionally. They set out to talk, and then do so.
>
>
> Whether they finally end up saying the things they wanted to say is 
> another story. But the "talking event", (where the aspect suffix 
> refers), is always intentional.
>
The point of *-ta'* isn't just that something was done intentionally. 
The point is that something was /accomplished./ It's not just that the 
action was performed under my own willpower; I'm making the point that I 
deliberately set out to accomplish something and did.

Klingon is not a scientific language attempting to accurately define 
events in the universe. It doesn't describe things objectively. Every 
sentence has a viewpoint. Klingon is a means of personal expression. If 
accomplishment is not part of what I want to express, then I shouldn't 
use *-ta'* instead of *-pu'.*

If I'm telling the story of how someone asked me if I like stuffed tobaj 
legs, and I want to express that I said yes, I probably won't use 
*jIjatlhta' HIja'.* Whether my speech was directed by my own will isn't 
important here; what's important is whether saying yes was an event I 
set out to accomplish and whether that matters at all. In this case, it 
doesn't matter at all. The appropriate sentence would be *jIjatlhpu' HIja'.*

Imagine saying "and I meant to do that" after each sentence you think 
deserves a *-ta'.* If the "and I meant to do that" seems pointless, 
*-ta'* is not really appropriate. "He asked me if I like stuffed tobaj 
legs. I said yes, and I meant to say that." The addition is silly, so 
*-ta'* should not be used. On the other hand, "When I saw the guard, I 
killed him, and I meant to do that." Here, the addition fits right in, 
so *-ta'* would be perfectly appropriate, though still optional. This 
isn't a rule, just a guideline you can use to figure out which suffix to 
use.

-- 
SuStel
http://trimboli.name

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