[87230] in tlhIngan-Hol
Re: {-lu'} on intransitive verbs [WAS Re: The topic marker -'e']
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Christopher Doty)
Fri Nov 27 00:07:06 2009
In-Reply-To: <SNT114-W6163AC08061D311FE95927F29B0@phx.gbl>
From: Christopher Doty <suomichris@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 26 Nov 2009 21:04:53 -0800
To: tlhingan-hol@kli.org
Errors-to: tlhingan-hol-bounce@kli.org
Reply-to: tlhingan-hol@kli.org
Thanks, these are quite interesting! So, as I said before, -lu'
functions as a passive in Klingon, but the examples below make it
clear that it ALSO has other functions, beyond just a passive.
Specific comments below.
On Thu, Nov 26, 2009 at 07:09, Agnieszka Solska <agnpau1@hotmail.com> wrote:
> Some canon examples of {-lu'} used on intransitive verbs:
(one of these--semantically, at least, if not syntactically--was
transitive; I've moved those to the bottom)
This first set looks closest to a sort of fourth person, especially
the first one. The last one could still be thought of as a passive,
though... And maybe the second one, too; would have to think about
that a bit more...
> quSDaq ba'lu''a'?
> Is this seat taken?
> TKD, p. 171
>
> pujwI' HIvlu'chugh *quvbe'lu'*.
> There is no honor in attacking the weak.
> TKW, p. 24
>
> batlhHa' vanglu'taHvIS quv chavbe'lu'.
> One does not achieve honor while acting dishonorably.
> TKW, p. 55
This next set is SUPER cool, as it looks like the -lu' is functioning
almost as a kind of nominalizer. Not exactly, of course, since they
aren't nouns, but in terms of referring not to the specific action but
the outcome of the action. I repeat: cool!
> yInlu'taH 'e' bajnISlu'.
> Survival must be earned.
> TKW, p. 125
>
> batlh Heghlu'chugh noDnISbe' vay'.
> An honorable death requires no vengeance.
> TKW, p. 129
>
> Heghlu'meH QaQ jajvam.
> It is a good day to die.
> TKW, p. 69
>
> Heghlu'DI' mobbe'lu'chugh QaQqu' Hegh wanI'.
> Death is an experience best shared.
> TKW, p. 73
>
> batlh Heghlu'chugh noDnISbe' vay'
> An honorable death requires no vengeance.
> TKW, p. 129
>
> 'oy'be'lu'chugh Qapbe'lu'.
> No pain, no gain.
> TKW, p. 175
Transitive example:
> Suvlu'taHvIS yapbe' HoS neH.
> Brute strength is not the most important asset in a fight.
> TKW, p. 21
