[tlhIngan Hol] expressing "approximately" with {chaq} and {tlhoS} the lesson from {vabDot} where {chaq} and {tlhoS} refer

[mayqel qunen'oS]

Suppose I write:

vabDot Dochvam je'qang verengan

There are three possible interpretations based on context:

1. Even a ferengi would be willing to buy this thing
2. A ferengi would be even willing to buy this thing
3. A ferengi would be willing to buy even this thing

Now suppose that instead of the adverb {vabDot} we use the adverb
{chaq}/{tlhoS}:

chaq/thoS wej qama' HoHpu' wa'maH yaS

Again, in a similar to {vabDot} manner, there are three possible
interpretations based on context:

1. Perhaps/almost ten officers killed three prisoners
2. Ten officers perhaps/almost killed three prisoners
3. Ten officers killed perhaps/almost three prisoners

Of course "perhaps"/"almost" is/are different from "approximately". But the
conclusion I'm getting at is that..

We *can* use {chaq} and {tlhoS} with the intention that -if the context's
right- they can be understood as applying to the subject/object instead of
the verb, the way {vabDot} does.

Right?

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