[tlhIngan Hol] does the {'e' qa'} express a preference supplemental

[Will Martin]

Hol vIghojmeH, tlhIngan Hol vImaS. vulqangan Hol vIpar.

matlh rurbogh nuv’e' Hutlh vulqangan Hol. mughojmoHlaH pagh.

> On Dec 2, 2021, at 9:06 AM, SuStel <sustel at trimboli.name> wrote:
> 
> On 12/2/2021 7:50 AM, mayqel qunen'oS wrote:
>> But
>> what I've just wondered is this: Why can't we express the "I prefer to
>> learn Klingon instead of Vulcan" by just placing a {'e' vImaS} after
>> the {'e' qa'}? I mean like this:
>> 
>> {tlhIngan Hol vIghoj; vulqangan Hol vIghoj 'e' qa' 'e' vImaS}
>> 
>> Granted, stringing together two {'e'}s in a row isn't perhaps the best
>> thing to do, but that aside, doesn't the sentence above mean too "I
>> prefer to learn Klingon instead of Vulcan"?
> Maybe? In English, instead of is an adverbial phrase, but in Klingon 'e' qa' is a complete sentence. The thing that is replacing something is a separate complete sentence. When you yet another complete sentence, 'e' vImaS, which refers back to 'e' qa', are you saying you prefer that it replace something? Are you saying you prefer the replacement instead of the original? Is there any significant difference between these?
> 
> Your proposed sentence has four independent clauses in it. Are you sure 'e' vImaS is referring to the correct clause?
> 
> It's probably okay, but it's a mess. You'd need a native speaker to confirm or deny to get a better answer.
> 
> 
> 
> -- 
> SuStel
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