[tlhIngan Hol] {vaj} connecting {-meH} clauses

mayqel qunen'oS mihkoun at gmail.com
Thu Oct 28 07:25:14 PDT 2021


ghunchu'wI':
> Second, if you can't translate {vaj} as "thus",
> you're probably using it wrong. I think you're using it wrong.

You're right. After reading the replies of you and SuStel, I
understood why {vaj} can't be used this way.

And your comment reminded me something which someone had written to
this list quite some time ago, regarding the use of klingon words with
multiple meanings.

Someone had said, that whenever there's a klingon word with multiple
english meanings, then one way to see if you're using it correctly is
to check whether *each* of  its' english definitions would make sense
for the purpose you want to use it.

So, (in our current case of {vaj}), unless it can be translated as
"thus" too, then its' use is obviously wrong.

However some time later, in another thread someone had suggested that
this approach can only be applied to klingon words with multiple
meanings which "overlap" each other; i.e. {vaj}, {Haw'} "flee/get
out", {tur} "carry out, conduct (a mission), perform (duties)", etc.

But when it came to klingon words with multiple definitions which
don't overlap, then one could use such a word to express only one of
its' english definitions, and context would clarify what exactly it is
that he actually means.

For example {ghargh} "serpent, worm"; there's no "overlap" between a
serpent (e.g. snake) and a worm, meaning that a creature can't
simultaneously be both a snake *and* a worm. But two people could use
the {ghargh}, one to say {'up gharghmey}, and another {mughIj
gharghmey} with the context clarifying that -in the first case- it is
worms which one finds disgusting, while in the second case the speaker
is describing his fear of serpents.

Anyways, I don't know how many people would actually agree with the
above way of approaching "multiple meaning klingon words", but I'm
sharing this because I find it to be an interesting approach, which
has helped me on numerous occasions make a choice as to which klingon
word I'd use and how.

--
Dana'an
https://sacredtextsinklingon.wordpress.com/
Ζεὺς ἦν, Ζεὺς ἐστίν, Ζεὺς ἔσσεται· ὦ μεγάλε Ζεῦ



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