[tlhIngan Hol] rIntaH and be-verbs

[Steven Boozer]

Two more examples of {rIntaH} from the paq'batlh to add to the discussion:

ghIq Qo'noSDaq Qap rIntaH 'e' Sov 
   qeylIS 
   qotar lIjbe’  
Then, the time came when Kahless saw 
   That his work on Kronos was done, 
   He did not forget Kotar. (PB)


porgh HoH wa' 'etlh 
   qa' tlhabmoH wa' 'etlh 
   tlhIngan choHlu' rIntaH 
One blade to extinguish the physical life, 
   One blade for freeing the soul, 
   The Klingon's transition was complete.  (PB)

[In this scene Lukara kills Kahless in the assisted ritual suicide {Heghbat} ceremony. Since Klingons have two hearts she needed to use the double-bladed {ma’veq} *mevak* knife to kill him with one thrust.]

--
Voragh
----------------------------------------Original Message----------------------------------------
From: Lieven L. Litaer

TKD:
This suffix [{-ta'}] is similar to {-pu',} but it is used when an activity was deliberately undertaken, the implication being that someone set out to do something and in fact did it.  [...]  instead of using the suffix {-ta',}  [...]  The resulting construction, {rIntaH,} literally means "it continues to be finished" or "it remains accomplished," It is used to indicate that the action denoted by the preceding verb is a fait accompli: it is done, and it cannot be undone.