In english (and greek if anyone wonders..) we can say: Is it true ? And someone can reply by saying "It is". In klingon if someone asks: {teH'a' ?} Can someone reply by saying {'oH} or {'oHbe'} ? Or is the only acceptable answer a {HIja'} or a {ghobe'} ? ~ nIghma'
I would advise against answering using {'oH} or {'oHbe'}, unless {'oH} is actually a key part of the question; answering it "It is." works in English because the copula "is" is used to link the subject to the adjective, but Klingon doesn't have any equivalent to that construct. Instead, if you don't want to answer {HIja'./HISlaH.} or {ghobe'.}, I'd advise using the verb: {teH.} / {teHbe'.} Now, on the other hand, if the question is: {nagh 'oH'a' Dochvam'e'?} then answering with {'oH.} or {'oHbe'.} makes perfect sense. It's similar to (Mandarin) Chinese, in a way; there isn't really a straightforward translation for the words "Yes." and "No.", so instead you commonly answer yes/no questions with the verb of the question, or its negation. https://blogs.transparent.com/chinese/yes-no-questions-in-chinese/ ________________________________ From: tlhIngan-Hol <tlhingan-hol-bounces@lists.kli.org> on behalf of mayqel qunenoS <mihkoun@gmail.com> Sent: Monday, October 23, 2017 18:39 To: tlhingan-hol@kli.org Subject: [tlhIngan Hol] replying with {'oH} In english (and greek if anyone wonders..) we can say: Is it true ? And someone can reply by saying "It is". In klingon if someone asks: {teH'a' ?} Can someone reply by saying {'oH} or {'oHbe'} ? Or is the only acceptable answer a {HIja'} or a {ghobe'} ? ~ nIghma'
On 10/23/2017 12:49 PM, Felix Malmenbeck wrote:
Now, on the other hand, if the question is: {nagh 'oH'a' Dochvam'e'?}
then answering with {'oH.} or {'oHbe'.} makes perfect sense.
I wouldn't say that either. *'oH* does not mean /be/ or /is./ It just means /it./ We use it to translate English "to be" sentences, but there's still no /be/ in there. */Tarzan/ jIH; /Jane/ SoH*/Me Tarzan; you Jane./ We add verb suffixes to the pronoun because copula relationships can be continuous or negated or queried and so on, but it's still a pronoun, not a verb. And if you strip away the linking of the pronoun with some noun, you have no copula left. Saying *'oH* is not saying /it is (something general or unspecified);/ it is only saying /it./ If you must give a full answer to *nagh 'oH'a' Dochvam'e', *it would be *nagh 'oH.* It can't get any smaller. -- SuStel http://trimboli.name
participants (3)
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Felix Malmenbeck -
mayqel qunenoS -
SuStel