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<div class="moz-cite-prefix">On 10/30/2021 3:59 PM, mayqel qunen'oS
wrote:<br>
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cite="mid:CAP7F2cJ4imfmR1dmFHv1cQkpvC+QuZsX6LSH+OXOV2M9txosHQ@mail.gmail.com">
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<div dir="auto">ghunchu'wI':
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<div dir="auto">> the predominant style of the best-written
Klingon</div>
<div dir="auto"><br>
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<div dir="auto">And who will be the judge of what is "the
predominant style of the best-written Klingon"?</div>
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<div dir="auto">The only person whose opinion would matter is
'oqranD. If 'oqranD had translated long complex texts, then
I would be glad to discuss the style he used, and the
choices he'd make. (And I say "discuss"; not "accept"). But
as far as I know, 'oqranD hasn't given us any translation of
a long complex text.</div>
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<p>Sure he has. <i>paq'batlh</i> is primarily his own translation,
with some editorial assistance from some KLI members.</p>
<p>However, it is specifically made to be a poetic translation of
poetry which is itself supposed to be a translation from an
original Old Klingon text. What that might say about Klingon
writing styles, I wouldn't venture to guess.<br>
</p>
<p><br>
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<div dir="auto">'oqranD has only advised "break up complex
sentences", and people keep repeating his words, as if some
kind of gum which they keep chewing over and over. It's like
someone saying "just create a ship which can time travel".</div>
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<p>Well, no. When I tell people to break up complex sentences, it's
because Klingon has a natural level of complexity that long years
of experience reading and speaking the language give me a good
feeling for. English sentences are more complex than Klingon
sentences, and many concepts put into individual English sentences
simply don't work in Klingon — the grammar just doesn't do
everything English grammar does. On the other hand, Klingon
appears to be far more forgiving of sentence fragments and relies
much more heavily on understanding context than English is and
does.</p>
<p>And advising less-complex sentences is not the same as advising
the shortest possible sentences. People who string together many
quality verbs as back-to-back complete sentences are doing a
disservice to what Klingon can do.</p>
<p>It's an art, not a science. Different settings will necessitate
different levels of complexity and formality. Different speakers
or writers will express themselves differently. There's no right
way. But there is what Klingon seems naturally best at, and the
further you deviate from that, the more skill you need to keep
your Klingon aesthetically pleasing and to keep your Klingon from
being either plodding (too simple) or impenetrable (too complex).<br>
</p>
<p><br>
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cite="mid:CAP7F2cJ4imfmR1dmFHv1cQkpvC+QuZsX6LSH+OXOV2M9txosHQ@mail.gmail.com">
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<div dir="auto">Now, as far as choices made by any other
individuals, as well as their personal writing styles are
concerned.. They aren't of any value, carry no authority, nor
can they be brought up as an example to be followed.</div>
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<p>This is one time I'm going to disagree with this. There is no
manual written by a Klingon on good style, but there doesn't need
to be. As an experienced Klingonist, I can judge whether something
is well-written in Klingon. Not according to Klingon aesthetics,
but according to mine. Either it will keep my attention or it
won't.<br>
</p>
<p>When I recommend breaking up a sentence, it's for one of two
reasons. Either the grammar of the original simply can't fit into
the grammar of Klingon, or what you've written is grammatically
valid but still not a good idea. "The dog the cat the mouse feared
loathed barked" is a grammatically valid sentence but a really
poor way to express yourself. Similarly, there are valid
constructions possible in Klingon that just aren't a good idea.<br>
</p>
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<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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