[Tlhingan-hol] questions on {-ghach} and {-meH}

[Rohan Fenwick]

ghItlhpu' ru'ben, jatlh:
> Hi everyone,
> I haven't tried to write anything in klingon in a long long time, so I
> tried tonight and I got a few questions...

qajang jIH 'e' vInIDbej.

> Although I have the impression that {-ghach} is not really recommended
> (is that true?) I tried to use it anyway...

The thing about {-ghach} is that a lot of people try to translate word-for-word from English using it instead of using other grammatical tools that are probably better options. It's not that common that {-ghach} is genuinely the best choice. For instance, your {bIQ watlhmoHghach patmey} does mean "systems of water purification", but it doesn't have the idea of purpose: systems *for the purpose of* water purification. You could use a purpose clause in {-meH} instead. {bIQ watlhmoHmeH patmey} means "systems for the purpose of purifying water"; it explicitly carries that idea of purpose that's lacking from the version with {-ghach}.

taH:
> {veQ boStaHghach Hemey 'oghtaH

"He/she/it is/they are devising garbage collection routes". Again, {veQ boSmeH Hemey} would be better, but it's understandable as it is.

> 'ej qatlhDa'mey patmey je biQ watlhmoHghach patmey

This is where I start to have trouble. Literally, this means "the water purification systems of the conduits and systems". Remember that the possessor comes first: {patmey qatlhDa'mey} would be "conduits of the systems". Do you mean "conduits and systems of water purification systems"?

> utlhtaH 'e' jonwI'pu' 'ampaSDaq vIghojta'}

{utlhtaH} is presumably a typo for {mutlhtaH}, so that's only minor. I can see what you were trying to express: I'm guessing "I have studied constructing [the stuff you talked about in the previous clause] at engineers' academy".

Remember that {'e'} is the object and so should come after the location in {-Daq}. According to TKD, you also shouldn't use an aspect suffix on a verb that has {'e'} as its object. So:  {jonwI' 'ampaSDaq 'e' vIghoj} "I learned that... (previous clause) at engineering school".

> {veQ boStaHghach Hemey 'ogh 'ej qatlhDa'mey patmey je biQ atlhmoHghach
> patmey mutlhmeH jonwI'pu' 'ampaSDaq jIqeqpu'}

Throughout, use first person subject prefixes where it's appropriate: you're talking about yourself, after all. For instance, {veQ boStaHghach Hemey vI'ogh} "I invent routes of garbage collection".

> 2) Is {-meH} in the right place here? Should I put it on {'ogh}
> instead? Should I put it in both verbs?

Yes, it should go on both verbs. For instance:

jIghojmeH 'ej jIqeqmeH 'ampaS vIjaH.
I go to school in order that I learn and in order that I train.

Notice that I've also used subject prefixes on the {-meH}-marked verbs here when they modify a main verb. (When they modify a noun, things get a bit more complicated.)

> *) bonus question: Is there a commonly used expression for
> "engineering"? I can imagine something like {jonwI' Qap} would do it,

"It succeeds the engineer"? No, probably not. As often in Klingon, it's a matter of finding something that works in context. In Trek "engineering" is often used as the name of a place, a shorthand for "engineering deck", in which case I find myself often using something like {jonwI' yaH} "engineer's duty station". As an abstract subject, perhaps {jonwI' Sov} "engineer's knowledge" or {jonwI' paQDI'norgh} "engineer's teachings" might do.

> Thanks a lot,
> ru'ben

qay'be'! qaboQpu'chugh jIbel.

> PS: yep, I just put and apostrophe in my name, let's see... {ru'} be
> temporary (n),

Note that {ru'} is a verb, not a noun.

> {ben} years ago (n), ... uhmm... temporary since years
> ago? like a permanent beta? or a cracked trial version? I like it.
> lol.

"The years past are temporary." A deep philosophy. :)

QeS 'utlh
 		 	   		  
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