Am 18.03.2020 um 18:50 schrieb mayqel qunen'oS:
But my goal isn't to translate the concept of "superior" as in "greater skill"; my problem is how to translate "superior" as in "of higher rank".
Thanks for this clarification. In this case, I think that {moch Qel} does not work that way. It seems like a parallel to {veSDuj} "warship" or "ship of war" but it feels odd, because in {veSDuj} the word {veS} somehow includes the purpose of {Duj}, but the way you intend this, a {moch Qel} is not a Qel serving a moch. I would not surprised if Maltz reveals that {moch} can be used as an adjective, and {Qel moch} would mean "higher rank doctor". Until we know for sure, I would prefer to avoid that construction. The general question here is, whether a the first noun in a N-N-construction can be used to modify the second noun. What is a {ra'wI' Qel}? A {SuvwI' Qel}? ... I think this leads back to my question of a few weeks ago, where I suggested if there is some kind of negative appostion, as seen in {QaDmoHwI' DIr}. -- Lieven L. Litaer aka the "Klingon Teacher from Germany" http://www.klingonisch.de http://www.klingonwiki.net/En/Apposition