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<div class="moz-cite-prefix">On 3/18/2020 2:38 PM, Lieven L. Litaer
wrote:<br>
</div>
<blockquote type="cite"
cite="mid:e3a1dfa1-e245-de3b-0ab4-c2cc83e0aeb5@gmx.de">The general
question here is, whether a the first noun in a
<br>
N-N-construction can be used to modify the second noun.</blockquote>
<p>Yes. Absolutely. The noun-noun construction represents a genitive
relationship between two nouns, of which possessive is only a
subset. In general, <i>genitive </i>means being associated in
some way. It's a very broad concept with many facets.<br>
</p>
<p>We have lots of examples of non-possessive noun-noun
constructions in Klingon. mayqel cited <b>baS 'In</b><i> bell,</i>
which cannot be interpreted as <i>drum which is possessed by
metal.</i> We have your own citation of <b>QaDmoHwI' DIr</b><i>
towel,</i> which is not a skin possessed by a drier. We have <b>vaj
toDuj</b><i> warrior courage</i> from KGT, which one might try
to interpret as <i>courage possessed by a warrior,</i> except the
word <b>vaj</b> refers to warriorhood, not a particular warrior,
so <b>vaj toDuj</b> refers to the kind of courage associated with
warriorhood, rather than courage actually possessed by
warriorhood. We have <b>nISwI' HIch</b><i> disruptor pistol,</i>
which is not a pistol possessed by a disruptor but a pistol of the
disruptor variety. We have <b>'Iw HIq</b><i> bloodwine,</i> which
is telling us a kind of alcohol, not that the blood possesses the
wine. We have <b>may' qoch</b><i> battle partner,</i> which does
not mean that the battle possesses the partner. And so on and on
and on.</p>
<p>While Okrand may not use the word "genitive" in <i>The Klingon
Dictionary,</i> the noun-noun construction is nevertheless
Klingon's genitive construction.</p>
<p><br>
</p>
<blockquote type="cite"
cite="mid:e3a1dfa1-e245-de3b-0ab4-c2cc83e0aeb5@gmx.de">What is a
<br>
{ra'wI' Qel}? A {SuvwI' Qel}? ... I think this leads back to my
question
<br>
of a few weeks ago, where I suggested if there is some kind of
negative
<br>
appostion, as seen in {QaDmoHwI' DIr}.
<br>
</blockquote>
<p>I have no idea what "negative apposition" is supposed to mean,
but <b>QaDmoHwI' DIr</b> is an example of a genitive
construction.</p>
<p>If we assume that <b>ra'wI' Qel</b> isn't to be interpreted as <i>the
commander's doctor,</i> then it means <i>commander-doctor,</i>
that is, a doctor who commands, a doctor who is a commander.
Likewise, if we assume that <b>SuvwI' Qel</b> doesn't refer to a
warrior's doctor, then it means <i>warrior-doctor,</i> a doctor
who doubles as a warrior.</p>
<pre class="moz-signature" cols="72">--
SuStel
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://trimboli.name">http://trimboli.name</a></pre>
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