Type 5: Indefinite subject/ability

The two suffixes of Type 5 have nothing much to do with each other except for both being Type 5. As a result, no verb occurs with both of these suffixes at the same time.

 

-lu’ indefinite subject

This suffix is used to indicate that the subject is unknown, indefinite, and/or general. Since the subject is always the same (that is, it is always unstated), the pronominal prefixes (section 4.1.1) are used in a different way. Those prefixes which normally indicate first- or second-person subject and third-person singular object (vI-, Da-, wI-, bo-) are used to indicate first- or second-person object. Thus, vI-, which normally means I do something to him/her, when in a verb with lu’ means someone/something does something to me. Similarly, the prefix lu-, which normally means they do something to him/her, becomes someone/something does something to them.

Daqawlu’ someone/something remembers you (qaw remember)

wIleghlu’ someone/something sees us (legh see)

Soplu’ someone/something eats it (Sop eat)

Verbs with -lu’ are often translated into the English passive voice.

 

Daqawlu’ you are remembered

wIleghlu’ we are seen

Soplu’ it is eaten

When used with the verb tu’ find, observe and a third-person singular subject pronoun (0), the resulting verb form tu’lu’ someone/ something finds it is often translated by English there is.

 

naDev puqpu’ tu’lu’ there are children around here, someone/ something finds children here (naDev hereabouts, puqpu’ children)

-laH can, able

jIQonglaH I can sleep (Qong sleep)

choleghlaH you can see me (legh see)

nuQaw’laH he/she can destroy us (Qaw’ destroy)

 

Type 6: Qualification

Like Type 3 noun suffixes, these suffixes show how sure the speaker is about what is being said.

 

-chu’ clearly, perfectly

jIyajchu’ I understand clearly (yaj understand)

baHchu’ he/she fired (the torpedo) perfectly (baH fire [a torpedo])

-bej certainly, undoubtedly

chImbej it is undoubtedly empty (chIm be empty)

nuSeHbej he/she is certainly controlling us(SeH control)

-law’ seemingly, apparently

chImlaw’ it appears to be empty (chIm be empty)

nuSeHlaw’ he/she seems to be controlling us (SeH control)

This suffix expresses any uncertainty on the speaker’s part and may even be thought of as meaning I think or I suspect. Thus, the previous two sentences could be translated I think it’s empty, I suspect that he/she is controlling us.

 

Type 7: Aspect

Klingon does not express tenses (past, present, future). These ideas come across from context or other words in the sentence (such as wa’leS tomorrow). The language does, however, indicate aspect: whether an action is completed or not yet completed, and whether an action is a single event or a continuing one.

 

The absence of a Type 7 suffix usually means that the action is not completed and is not continuous (that is, it is not one of the things indicated by the Type 7 suffixes). Verbs with no Type 7 suffix are translated by the English simple present tense.

 

Dalegh you see him/her (legh see)

qaja’ I tell you (ja’ tell)

When the context is appropriate, verbs without a Type 7 suffix may be translated by the English future tense (will), but the real feeling of the Klingon is closer to English sentences such as We fly tomorrow at dawn, where the present-tense verb refers to an event in the future.

 

-pu’ perfective

This suffix indicates that an action is completed. It is often translated by the English present perfect (have done some-thing).

Daleghpu’ you have seen it (legh see)

vIneHpu’ I wanted them (neH want)

qaja’pu’ I told you (ja’ tell)

-ta’ accomplished, done

This suffix is similar to -pu’, but it is used when an activity was deliberately undertaken, the implication being that someone set out to do something and in fact did it. English translations seldom reveal the distinction.

 

vISuqta’ I have acquired it (Suq get, acquire)

luHoHta’ they have killed him/her (HoH kill)

The second sentence above could not be used if the killing were the result of a general attack not intended to kill a specific person or if the killing were an accident. In such cases, -pu’ would be used:

 

luHoHpu’ they have killed him/her

The meaning of -ta’ can also be indicated syntactically. That is, instead of using the suffix -ta’, a special verbal construction can follow the verb which indicates the accomplished action. This special verb is rIn be finished, accomplished, and in this usage it always takes the suffix -taH continuous (see below) and the third-person pronominal prefix (0). The resulting construction, rIntaH, literally means it continues to be finished or it remains accomplished. It is used to indicate that the action denoted by the preceding verb is a fait accompli: it is done, and it cannot be undone.

 

luHoH rIntaH they have killed him/her (HoH kill)

vIje’ rIntaH I have purchased it (je’ purchase)

The English translations of rIntaH and -ta’ are usually the same. The notion of absolute finality implied by rIntaH seldom comes across. It should be noted that rIntaH is sometimes used for dramatic effect, even in cases when the action could be undone.

-taH continuous

  This suffix indicates that an action is ongoing.

 

nughoStaH it is approaching us (ghoS approach)

yIghoStaH steady on course!, maintain this course! (ghoS go, approach, proceed on a course)

Both of the above sentences suggest a continuing activity. The meaning of -taH can be seen clearly by comparing the following two commands:

 

yIjun execute an evasive maneuver!

yIjuntaH take evasive action!

In the first case, the maneuver is to be executed once only. In the second, a series of evasive maneuvers is to be executed—the action is to be continuous.

 

-lI’ in progress

This suffix is similar to -taH continuous in that it indicates that an activity is ongoing. Unlike -taH, however, -lI’ implies that the activity has a known goal or a definite stopping point. In other words, it suggests that progress is being made toward that goal.

 

chollI’ it is getting closer (chol get close, come near)

This word would be used for, i.e., a missile approaching a target, when it is known that the missile has been aimed at that target. If a missile is getting closer, but its intended destination is not known, choltaH (with -taH continuous) would be more appropriate.

vIlI’lI’ I am transmitting (the data) (lI’ transmit data to a place)

This word implies that data are in the process of being transmitted, but that there is a finite amount of data, so there will be a definite end to the transmission. The fact that the verb lI’ and the suffix -lI’ are identical in sound is purely coincidental, so far as can be determined.

 

The suffix -taH continuous can be used whether there is a known goal or not. -lI’, on the other hand, can be used only when there is an implied goal. It is possible to consider -lI’ a continuous counterpart of -ta’, and -taH a continuous counterpart of -pu’.

 

Type 8: Honorific

-neS honorific

There is but one suffix in this category. It is used to express extreme politeness or deference. It is used only in addressing a superior, someone of higher rank in the Klingon social, political, or military hierarchy. It is never required.

 

qaleghneS I am honored to see you (legh see)

HIja’neS do me the honor of telling me (ja’ tell)

This suffix is used rather infrequently by Klingons.

 

Type 9: Syntactic markers

Similar to Type 5 noun suffixes (section 3.3.5), these verb suffixes have to do with the verb’s role in the sentence. The first six suffixes will be noted briefly here, but illustrated more completely in section 6.2.

 

-DI’ as soon as, when

DaSeHDI’ as soon as you control it (SeH control)

qara’DI’ as soon as I command you (ra’ command)

-chugh if

DaneHchugh if you want them (neH want)

choja’chugh if you tell me (ja’ tell)

 

-pa’ before

choja’pa’ before you tell me (ja’ tell)

qara’pa’ before I command you (ra’ command)

-vIS while

This suffix is always used along with the Type 7 suffix

 

-taH continuous.

SutlhtaHvIS while they are negotiating (Sutlh negotiate)

bIQongtaHvIS while you are sleeping (Qong sleep)

-bogh which

 

This is the relative-clause marker. It is described in section 6.2.3.

 

-meH for

This marks purpose clauses. See section 6.2.4.

 

-’a’ interrogative

This suffix indicates that the sentence is a yes/no question; that is, a question which can be answered “yes” or “no.” (See also sec- tion 6.4.).

 

cholegh’a’ do you see me? (legh see)

yaj’a’ does he/she understand? (yaj understand)

Questions of other types require special question words (section 6.4).

 

-wI’ one who does, thing which does

This is the suffix described earlier (section 3.2.2) which turns verbs into nouns.

 

  So’wI’ cloaking device (So’ cloak, hide)

baHwI’ gunner (baH fire [a torpedo])

joqwI’ flag (joq flutter, wave)