Am 04.04.2017 um 09:45 schrieb De'vID:
I just noticed something odd.
The same was given for the word {neb}, which is {nebDu'} in anatomy and {nebmey} on rockets.
In KGT, we were told this about {DeSqIv}:
Yes, KGT also says about the slang term {Ho'} for "hero": Even as slang, {Ho'} follows the rules appropriate to its literal meaning. Even though referring to a person, its plural is {Ho'Du'} Do we have any other examples of this kind?
Previously, some people have taken this to imply that body parts were a noun class in Klingon, and that body part words take the {-Du'} suffix even when not referring to a body part.
Yes, I think KGT is clear on this even mentioneing the term "rule".
But {noq} seems to contradict this. What's going on here? Is one or the other of {noq} or {DeSqIv} an exception to the rule, and if so, what's the rule?
I usually base the rules on the statistical majority of examples, but in this case, I have two examples this way, two the other way. I suggest following the "basic rule" exmplained in KGT and see these two words as exceptions or homonyms you just have to memorize. (out of the game: KGT was written 20 years ago, so maybe Okrand just didn't remember what he wrote their precisely - or he did intentionally?) (a side note: We talked about something similar at qepHom'a', when Okrand mentioned a term used in movie production, lamps standing on a "foot", and people would talk about "foots" instead of "feet". I just don't remember the end of the discussion. I think we agreed on saying {De' jengva'mey}, altough the plural of jengva' is ngop.)
Or does each body part word work differently when used to refer to a non-body-part in the plural, and it's just something you have to memorise?
That would not be wrong to do, as it is based on something we are told. {DeSqIvSu' ghaj nevDagh} {noqmey ghaj ghu balmey}
Incidentally, the online version of the qep'a' booklet where {noq} was given seems to have disappeared:
I do. I'll send it offlist to you. -- Lieven L. Litaer aka Quvar valer 'utlh Grammarian of the KLI http://www.facebook.com/Klingonteacher http://www.klingonwiki.net/En/BodyParts