On Tue, 22 Jan 2019 at 12:38, De'vID <de.vid.jonpin@gmail.com> wrote:
On Wed, 16 Aug 2017 at 16:26, mayqel qunenoS <mihkoun@gmail.com> wrote:
The klingon word for "socks" is {paSlogh}. Is this word to be treated as being grammatically singular, and is it possible to say "one sock" in klingon ? As far as I know, it is unknown if a singular form exists.
I relayed your question to Dr. Okrand, who asked Maltz about it. I just got his reply: {paSlogh} works like {ngop}.
--- begin quote --- {paSlogh} is an inherently plural noun, grammatically singular. {tu'mI'} the word for one sock. The usual way to say "pair of socks" is {paSlogh chang'eng}; {tu'mI' chang'eng} is odd, but if you said it, you'd be understood. --- end quote ---
He also revealed a verb to use with it. {mey} v. match, fit onto, interlock with, interlace with, mesh with --- begin quote --- {qoch} is not the word for "partner" when referring to socks and gloves and the like. The word for that is {nelwI'}. With {nel}, the subject is one sock (or glove or shoe or whatever) of the pair and the object is the other. To talk about a sock (or glove or….) matching (that is fitting onto) a foot (or hand or…), use the verb {mey}: {mumey waqmeywIj} "my shoes fit" (literally, "my shoes fit me") {torgh lumey waqmey} "the shoes fit Torg" {waqmeywIj vImey} "I fit my shoes" --- end quote --- More clarification about the difference between {mey} and {nel}: --- begin quote --- When a piece of a jigsaw puzzle fits into the right spot, you can say: {Qay'mol mey (Qay'mol) teSra'} "the (puzzle) piece fits (into) the puzzle" (In this context, you don't have to repeat {Qay'mol}, but it's fine if you do.) or {nelchu' Qay'mol teSra'} "the puzzle piece fits perfectly" The first focuses on the interlocking of the pieces; the second focuses on the piece in question occupying the identically shaped space where it goes. --- end quote --- -- De'vID