[Tlhingan-hol] KLBC: "shut up or I'll hit you"

[John R. Harness]

Ah, now I see where this is being discussed in the one-sentence game thread.

qunnoq said:

"Recently, Qov had pointed out to me (thank you Qov !) that the klingon
word {pagh} (conj) <or, either/or>, cannot be used in klingon, in the
same way that we would say in english <surrender or die>.

The formula in klingon is {...-chugh vaj ...} <if you do/don't
(whatever) then (consequences)>. So, in your example the correct way
to put it would be..."

Qov, or anyone else, where is this formula established in the canon? (I'm
not arguing against it, I'm just looking for a citation. A quick glance
through the dictionary didn't turn anything up for me.)

So then, QISta', if it is the case that there is simply a formula for this
sort of statement, then that formula must be used.

***{bItamchoHbe'chugh vaj qaqIp.} it is, then.***

Thanks for bringing up this question!!


--

Socialist Alternative <http://www.socialistalternative.org/>
Klingon Language Institute <http://www.kli.org/>

On Wed, Feb 24, 2016 at 3:45 PM, John R. Harness <cartweel at gmail.com> wrote:

> QISta': I don't think what you've written breaks any rules, but it seems
> to me that Qov is suggesting a more stylistic way of doing it...
>
> Qov: Thanks for the advice, but that raises more questions than it
> provides answers for me.
>
> bIjeghbe'chugh vaj bIHegh. -> Surrender or die.
>
> Actually it says: "If you do not surrender, then you die."
>
> I suppose you are suggesting: {bItamchoHbe'chugh vaj qaqIp.} "If you don't
> become quiet, then I hit you."
>
> For what is meant to be such an imperative sentiment, why is the
> imperative avoided here? Why not {yIjegh vaj yIHegh}? Why not {yItamchoH
> pagh qaqIp}?
>
>
>
>
> --
>
> Socialist Alternative <http://www.socialistalternative.org/>
> Klingon Language Institute <http://www.kli.org/>
>
> On Wed, Feb 24, 2016 at 12:33 PM, Robyn Stewart <robyn at flyingstart.ca>
> wrote:
>
>> Look up how to say “surrender or die” in Klingon, and then answer the
>> question yourself.
>>
>>
>>
>> *From:* chransberry at gmail.com [mailto:chransberry at gmail.com]
>> *Sent:* February 24, 2016 10:02
>> *To:* tlhingan-hol at kli.org
>> *Subject:* [Tlhingan-hol] KLBC: "shut up or I'll hit you"
>>
>>
>>
>> So, I'm wondering about this construction, {yItamchoH pagh qaqIp}. That
>> is, an imperative connected to a declarative, as a threat - does that work?
>>
>> -QISta'
>> Pardon my woeful ignorance
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> Tlhingan-hol mailing list
>> Tlhingan-hol at kli.org
>> http://mail.kli.org/mailman/listinfo/tlhingan-hol
>>
>>
>
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