[84286] in tlhIngan-Hol
Re: Klingon WOTD: nIHwI' (noun)
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Steven Boozer)
Tue Mar 25 11:24:09 2008
Date: Tue, 25 Mar 2008 10:21:30 -0500
To: tlhingan-hol@kli.org
From: Steven Boozer <sboozer@uchicago.edu>
In-Reply-To: <f60fe000803240900u50317e73p839054fc9b2c66e@mail.gmail.com>
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Errors-to: tlhingan-hol-bounce@kli.org
Reply-to: tlhingan-hol@kli.org
Voragh:
> > This is of course the nomen agentis of the verb {nIH} "steal".
> > Related verbs include {Hej} "rob" and {qor} "scavenge".
Mark J. Reed:
>Do we have any canonical help with the distinction between {nIH} and
>{Hej}? The difference between the English glosses is pretty darn
>subtle, if not nonexistent, depending on context.
Our only example of {nIH} "steal" comes from a brief example on the Star
Trek Continuum: LKlingon Linguistic Studies page:
DanIH
You steal it. KLS
Note the English object "it".
AFAIK there are no examples of {Hej} "rob", though {HejwI'} "robber" was
mentioned in KGT in the section on the importance of correct enunciation
(p. 191):
Hej ("rob") / HIj ("deliver, transport goods")
{HejwI'} ("robber")
{HIjwI'} ("delivery person")
Hmm... nice contrast: a {HejwI'} takes things away from you, but a
{HIjwI'} brings things to you! <g>
lay'tel SIvten:
>I don't see any canon usage at all for either {nIH} or {Hej}, but the English
>difference between "steal" and "rob" mirrors the difference between {jatlh}
>and {ja'}.
>
>In "A robs B", A takes something from B, while in "A steals B", A takes B
>from someone.
I think this is a good rule-of-thumb to follow until we have more
examples. This distinction (in English) is even illustrated by Okrand's
comment about the Hur'q:
... the Hur'q, a race of humanoids from the Gamma Quadrant who
developed a reputation as ruthless invaders who would attack other
societies primarily for the purpose of robbery, stealing whatever
they could and destroying the rest. [KGT 153]
i.e. {nugh luHej} they rob a "society" (i.e. people) vs. {vay' lunIH} they
steal "whatever" (i.e. things).
Jonathan Webley:
>Is {nIH} a pun on "nick"?
That's been suggested, but I don't know if Okrand has ever confirmed it.
--
Voragh
Ca'Non Master of the Klingons
