[2561] in tlhIngan-Hol
Re: Questions about questions..
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU)
Fri Jan 14 18:34:17 1994
Reply-To: "Klingon Language List" <tlhIngan-Hol@klingon.East.Sun.COM>
From: Will Martin <whm2m@uva.pcmail.virginia.edu>
To: "Klingon Language List" <tlhIngan-Hol@klingon.East.Sun.COM>
Date: Fri, 14 Jan 94 18:29:04 EST
On Jan 14, 10:12am, "Matt Gomes" wrote:
> Subject: Questions about questions..
>
> Subject: Time:7:02 AM
> OFFICE MEMO Questions about questions... Date:1/14/94
>
> bIjatlhneS:
>
> Using my limited vocabulary (ie, the sentences Marc O. has pre-made
> in TKD), I've noticed it's very hard for me NOT to inflect when I ask
> a question.... For example:
>
> bIyaj'a'
>
> Very simple, but my tendency as an English speaker is to inflect up
> at the end since it's a question (Do you understand?).
>
> Now the question is... would that be proper? Or do Klingons speak in
> a monotone with no inflections. Any suggestions/thoughts/concepts?
>
> Qapla'!
>
> -mat
Having both the movies and tapes as examples, I would not describe it as
a monotone. I know that my natural tendency is to inflect pitch slightly
upward on the last syllable as well, but the accent/stress is on the root
verb. The suffix is quite short, if forceful. For me, it is quite similar to
the inflection I would put on {bIyajqu'}. I would tend to have a slightly
more upward inflection on the question than the intensive, but it is rather
subtle. Then again, that's just me.
Mostly, I'd recommend getting Conversational Klingon and Power Klingon,
the two tapes where most of the Klingon is being spoken by Okrand himself,
instead of by actors who were coached by Okrand (as in the movies) or by
actors who probably never HEARD of Okrand (as in the TV shows). Listen.
Decide.
-- charghwI'
