ghunchu'wI':
> Is the {-vaD} supposed
> to be marking the target of the spike (I'd expect {-Daq}
I thought of using {-Daq}, but I didn't, since I remembered that
{-Daq} is to be used only for physical locations. On the other hand
"the ribs" are a physical location but since they are used
metaphorically, I decided eventually to go with {-vaD}.
But they denote a physical location within the metaphor.
{bIQ'a'Daq 'oHtaH 'etlh'e'} - the metaphorical sword is in the metaphorical ocean
{may'Daq jaHDI' SuvwI' juppu'Daj lonbe'} - when a warrior goes to either a physical or a metaphorical battle, he doesn't abandon his/her friends
The fact that you're speaking metaphorically about a thorn in ribs doesn't change the fact that you're speaking about a thorn located in ribs.
--
De'vID