loghaD:

> When a Klingon says {[sentence] net 

> jalchugh, [...]}, the idea they wish to 

> express is normally roughly analogous to

> an irrealis conditional in English ("were it

> the case that [setence], [...]"). You could 

> imagine cases where somebody uses the

> expression in a more literal sense (qIt 

> ghu' qaq net jalchugh, chaq qaS Daw'.), 

> and in that case it will be up to the 

> translator to distinguish between the two 

> senses.

Thanks for clarifying this ! So far, I've been under the impression that the *only* way someone could use the {net jalchugh} could be in the irrealis way. It's good to learn, that we can use it literally too.

SuStel:

> I don't think so. net jalchugh sets up the 

> condition for an irrealis. It's a set phrase. 

> net jal only means that someone is 

> literally  imagining something. There's no

> condition, so no irrealis, only someone 

> imagining something.

ok, I understand.. It would be too good to be true, to be able to use the {net jal} on its own..

But, no problem ! Luckily we have the {net jalchugh}, so when the need for an irrealis will arise, we can avoid being caught with our pants down !

(I always found this english phrase very funny.. hahaha !)

~ mayqel qunen'oS