[tlhIngan Hol] literal meaning of the {net jalchugh}

[SuStel]

On 2/23/2021 8:06 AM, mayqel qunen'oS wrote:
> Suppose I write: SuvwI'na' SoH net jalchugh, vaj bISuvqang.
>
> There are two options with regards to this sentence.
>
> Option A: The literal meaning of this sentence is "if you were a true 
> warrior, you'd be willing to fight".
>
> Option B: The literal meaning of the sentence is "if one imagines that 
> you're a true warrior, you're willing to fight".
>
> In option A, the {net jalchugh} gives to the sentence the literal 
> meaning of irrealis.
>
> In option B, there's no irrealis as far as the literal translation of 
> the sentence is concerned, but we read and understand it as irrealis 
> because maltz said so.
>
> So what's the correct option?

You are thinking in English, not Klingon. *net jalchugh* means exactly 
what it says /and/ introduces an irrealis. It isn't interpreted as two 
separate things. The fact that the construction can be translated in 
English one way with an irrealis and another way without one is 
irrelevant to how the Klingon works.

-- 
SuStel
http://trimboli.name

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