Am 27.05.2026 um 15:41 schrieb SuStel via tlhIngan-Hol:
I see no reason we can't use terminology that doesn't appear in TKD if it aptly describes something.
I partially agree, e.g. we use the "prefix trick", which also is no canon term. On the other hand, I remember earlier discussions on this list where it was said that we should not impose English Grammar on the Klingon language. There were many situation where somebody tried to use English grammar terminology and tried to find it in Klingon, but we had to say that it doesn't exist in Klingon. Therefore, especially in this case, I would avoid using this "inherently singular" term, because it seems not so clear. Also, because English grammar does it the other way around.
I'm not saying we should force others to use such terms; I'm just remarking that the community has somehow avoided this particular phrase.
Ah, yeah, just what I said. wa' DoS we qIp.
A noun like {peng} isn't inherently singular because it can't be pluralized. It's inherently singular because the singularness is inherent to the noun.
A noun like {peng} can't do this. {peng} is specifically one torpedo.
But it is still possible. Please follow my path: {wej cha} "three torpedoes" is grammatically correct {wej pengmey} "three torpedoes" is grammatically correct TKD say that when a number is used, the suffix may be omitted, so: {wej peng} "three torpedoes" is grammatically correct. I agree that {peng} is a singular form, but depending on usage, this phrase can transport the plural meaning.
So {peng} is as much an inherently singular noun as {cha} is an inherently plural noun.
Not really: - {wej peng} can be plural. - {wa' cha} is nonsense, because {cha} is inherently plural. In other words, I can have many things of 1, but not 1 thing of a group of many. Nevertheless, I accept your opinion and statement, and won't delve into deeper discussion on this subject. I might be wrong, after all. As for now, I will avoid that phrase, simply because it's not used as such in TKD. -- Lieven L. Litaer aka the "Klingon Teacher from Germany" https://tlhInganHol.com https://klingon.wiki/En/Plural