[Tlhingan-hol] -nIS : whose volition?

[Robyn Stewart]

When I say volition I am quoting TKD 4.2.2.  I will further quote: “suffixes of this type express how much choice the subject has about the action described or how predisposed the subject is to doing it.”

 

From: Bellerophon, modeler [mailto:bellerophon.modeler at gmail.com] 
Sent: May 29, 2014 19:20
To: tlhingan-hol at kli.org
Subject: Re: [Tlhingan-hol] -nIS : whose volition?

 

In the examples you cite, the "need" is relative to some purpose, which is implied. Also, volition does not necessarily coincide with "need," particularly if the supposed need serves someone else's ends. Perhaps Klingons assert different views of the purpose to be served when they use the ending {nIS}.

 

However, you make a good point. Similar misuse of "need" in such contexts in English (and other Earth languages) does not mean that Klingons also indulge in such verbal posturing. It seems somehow indirect, and therefore un-Klingon.

~'eD

 

On Thu, May 29, 2014 at 9:25 PM, Robyn Stewart <robyn at flyingstart.ca> wrote:

Once again I am seeking to satisfy the widest possible range of competent Klingon speakers with my interpretation of TKD and canon for the beginners’ course.


We know from TKD that type 2 verb suffixes represent the volition of the subject to perform the action of the verb. We also have the sentence from Star Trek V: DungDaq legh 'ej QotnIStaH romuluSngan be'pu' = Romulan women belong on their backs. Clearly in this sentence Korrd is not describing the actual volition of Romulan women, nor what he believes about what they personally need, but his own opinion, what they would need to do to satisfy him, similar to us saying, “That food needs to be in my belly.”

I think I say and hear things like this in Klingon all the time.  Are we correct? Is Korrd’s line an aberration or regionalism? Would you feel it correct or incorrect to advise beginners to avoid this usage? 

Would you accept the sentence:

jagh mernIS bachlIj.  

Clearly the shot itself has no volition, it is the speaker (addressing the gunner) who has the need.

Discuss.


_______________________________________________
Tlhingan-hol mailing list
Tlhingan-hol at kli.org
http://mail.kli.org/mailman/listinfo/tlhingan-hol





 

-- 
My modeling blog:          http://bellerophon-modeler.blogspot.com/
My other modeling blog:  http://bellerophon.blog.com/

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://mail.kli.org/pipermail/tlhingan-hol/attachments/20140529/0337af88/attachment.html>