[Tlhingan-hol] KLBC: -bej versus Sov

[Steven Boozer]

Chelsea Knauf:
> {-bej} and {Sov} seem to both occupy a very similar space, so I'm
> trying to muddle out when one is used over the other.  {-bej} can
> only be used to describe things the speakers believes to be true,
> so {Sov} is required for everything but singular first person, I
> believe.  But when expressing things that I know, are there guidelines
> for when {-bej} or {jISov} is more appropriate?
>
> The TKD has the example sentence {nuSeHbej}.  Is there a reason it can
> be rephrased as {nuSeH 'e' jISov}?
>
> {Doq DujDaj jISov} or {Doqbej DujDaj}?
> {cho'IjlaH 'e' jISov} or {cho'IjlaHbej}?

It's a matter of certainty (n. {Dich}) not mere knowledge (n. {Sov}}.  Here's a dump from my notes on {-bej} which may help:

TKD 39:  "Like Type 3 noun suffixes, these suffixes show how sure the speaker is about what is being said." (TKD 39)

{-bej} is a "qualifying suffix" used when there is no doubt in your mind as to the accuracy of the statement. (PK)

"[{-bej}] belongs to a class of suffixes called evidentials, used in languages such as Turkish, which qualify statements according to how strongly the speaker can attest to their validity." (Arika Okrent, ILIL p.270)

chImbej 
It is undoubtedly empty. TKD

nuSeHbej 
He is certainly controlling us. TKD

Qu'vaD lI' net tu'bej 
One certainly finds it useful for the mission. 
One will certainly observe that it is useful to the mission. TKD

qabwIjDaq Soj tu'lu'bej 
There's food all over my face. CK

cha'pujqutmey vIje' vIneHbej 
I DEFINITELY want to buy dilithium crystals. PK

vIneHbej 
I DEFINITELY want them. PK

javmaH tat chu'wI' vIneHbej 
I definitely want sixty ion triggers. PK

taghbej mu'qaD veS 
Curse warfare has definitely begun. PK

qu'bej QoghlIj 
Your krol is definitely fierce. PK

Dalbej 
It's undoubtedly boring. PK

vaj toDDujDaj ngeHbej DIvI' 
That means the Federation will be sending a rescue ship of its own. (ST5 notes)

maHeghbejqu' 
It's certain death. (ST5 notes)

nutojbej 
We've been betrayed! ST6
[lit. "They've definitely tricked us!"] 

pIj maSuvpu' batlh maSuvpu' 'ej maQapbejta' 
In our many battles, we have fought with honor and achieved VICTORY! (Hallmark)

'avwI' nejDI' narghta'bogh qama' reH 'avwI' Sambej 
When an escaped prisoner looks for a guard, he always finds one. TKW

charghbej vIt 
The truth shall conquer. KCD
["In this Klingon proverb, the suffix -bej, following the verb chargh conquer, means certainly or undoubtedly. Thus, `there's no doubt that the truth shall conquer.'" (Language Lab)] KCD

batlh maHeghbej 'ej yo' qIjDaq vavpu'ma' DImuv 
Then we die with honor and join our fathers in the Black Fleet... (Anthem)

lujbej 
certainly fail. KGT

HIvrupbej 
They're certainly ready to attack. KGT

And some examples of {Sov}:

jISov 
I know. KLS

jISovbe' 
I don't know. TKD

qama'pu' DIHoH 'e' luSov 
They know we kill prisoners. TKD

qama'pu' DIHoH net Sov 
One knows we kill prisoners. (... net Sov Of course, ... SB) TKD

De' Sov qar'a' HoD = De' Sov HoD qar'a' 
The captain knows the information, right? TKD

naDev vay' 
DaSov'a' Do you know anyone here? CK

naDev vay' vISovbe' 
I don't know anyone here. CK

lut tlhaQ DaSov'a' 
Do you know any funny stories? PK

DaqwIj vISovbe' 
I am lost ("I do not know my location.") PK

De' lI' Sovlu'DI' chaq Do'Ha' 
Knowledge of useful information may be unfortunate. PK

loS... qIb HeHDaq, 'u' SepmeyDaq Sovbe'lu'bogh lenglu'meH
 He ghoSlu'bogh retlhDaq 'oHtaH 
It waits... on the edge of the galaxy, beside a passage to
 unknown regions of the universe. S99

qagh largh SuvwI' ghung. Sum qagh 'e' Sov 
The hungry warrior smells the gagh. He/she knows the gagh is nearby. (HQ 12/1998)

Dogh ghaH 'e' Sov moratlh 
Morath knows he has been a fool PB


Keep in mind that you can use {Sov} and {-bej} together:

Sovbej
know for certain  KGT

Sovbej pagh 
No one knows for sure PB

bISovbejbe'DI' tImer 
When in doubt, surprise them. TKW


Here are two bits of dialog from the movies to provide a bit of context:


VIXIS:  'entepray' Hub patmey luchu'be'lu'pu'.  HoD, naDev maH 'e' luSovbe'. 
         Enterprise defense systems are down. Captain, they don't know we're here.
KLAA:   tugh luSovbej 
         They will in a moment. (ST5 notes)


GROKH:  qay'be'.  Daq SovlaHbe'taH qIrq.
	   It does not matter. Kirk cannot know the location.
CHANG:  DaSovbej'a'?   bISuDrup'a'?
 	   Are you sure [of that]? Are you willing to take that chance? (ST6 novel)


--
Voragh
Ca'Non Master of the Klingons