On Thu, Aug 31, 2017 at 12:56 PM, Aurélie Demonchaux < demonchaux.aurelie@gmail.com> wrote:
While discussing on the "Learn Klingon" group on Facebook, we wondered how to choose the correct verb prefix when "joq" (and / or) is used in the object and / or subject of the sentence. [...] if it were just a "je" we'd use "DI-" without hesitating, or if it were a "ghap" we'd use "wI-", but with joq... ? Has it already been discussed at some point what to do when you can't determine whether a verb's object / subject is singular or plural ?
I don't think there is a prescriptive answer to this question. My instinct is to avoid the situation, the way I often do with English sentences that call for an assumption of gender when it's not important to the idea. (I dislike the "singular they", but I don't have a problem making entire sentences plural in order to use "they" and "them" instead of "he or she" and "him or her".) Failing that, I usually go with whatever is more likely to be the case. In the {vIraS Hol tlhIngan Hol joq} example, I would arbitrarily call it plural, mostly because I think most people who would reject learning French would not be part of the audience. -- ghunchu'wI'