Translation and translation checks needed

[Kudara]

I am trying to translate several short phrases into Klingon.

These are the ones that I've worked out so far.

jInepbe’ - I do not lie

jItojbe’ - I do not deceive

jIHHoS or jIHoS - I am strong

jIvang batIh - I act with honor. (act (v) – vang) (honor(n) – batIh)  

I'm not at all certain that I got the last two correctly translated.  If I could get confirmaton I would be very appreciative.


Now for the stumper.

– My actions are my own.  ( my act(v) – vangwIj)

For the life of me I cannot figure out how to translate the my own.  I'm trying to give the sense of saying that the person speaking accepts the consequences/results of their actions for better or worse.

Oh context might be helpful, I'm trying to figure out a response to the challenge of "Why are you worth of learning how to fight with the Sword of Honor."

Thanks,
K'dara
 

[ngabwI]

I am trying to translate several short phrases into Klingon.

jInepbe’ - I do not lie

jItojbe’ - I do not deceive

majQa'! Well done!

jIHHoS or jIHoS - I am strong

Go with {jIHoS}.  {jIH HoS} means "strong monitor".

jIvang batIh - I act with honor. (act (v) – vang) (honor(n) – batIh)  

Flip it around: {batlh jIvang} "I act honorably"

Now for the stumper.

– My actions are my own.  ( my act(v) – vangwIj)

For the life of me I cannot figure out how to translate the my own.  I'm trying to give the sense of saying that the person speaking accepts the consequences/results of their actions for better or worse.

The problem is you are trying to "encode", not translate. Encoding is simply exchanging words between two languages, without regard to the meaning, or what those words mean in the two languages:

Look at what you are trying to say, then say it in Klingon. (Sounds trite, but stay with me here.)

Someone asks you, "Why do you learn the [betleH}?" and you answer, "My actions are my own".
So what, exactly, do you want the other person to read into that? That you are a mature adult? Then say {jInen} "I am mature, I am an adult".
When you say to me, in English, "My actions are my own", I hear "I make my own decisions, I set my own goals, and take steps to see they are accomplished."
We have a proverb that we could piggyback nicely, I think:

{tlhIngan ngoQmey chavmeH HoH tlhInganpu'} "Klingons kill for their own purposes"

You could plug in {jIvang} "I act" for {HoH}, {ngoQmeywIj} "my purposes" for {tlhIngan ngoQmey}, and clean it up so it reads:

{ngoQmeywIj vIchavmeH jIvang} "I act in order to acheive my own goals"

Just a suggestion. And if I strayed too far from your intended meaning, post and I'll try again. }}: )

HovpoH 701661.4

[Kudara]

Hmm the sense I was aiming for is slightly different.

More of the military leadership sense of a accepting the consequences of their decisions.  Whether those decisions lead to punishment or accolades.

Could you explain why jIHHos means strong monitor?  I just bought the Klingon Dictionary yesterday  I'm still trying to figure all of this out.

Thank you for the corrections.  The only other language I ever studied was latin and that was over 20 years ago.  This is starting to remind me of latin grammar.

[Kudara]

I think I understand why jIH HoS means strong monitor.  Object - Verb which means jIH is translated as its noun meaning not the pronoun?

[ngabwI]

I think I understand why jIH HoS means strong monitor.  Object - Verb which means jIH is translated as its noun meaning not the pronoun?

Close.  Not just any verb can do this, only a special kind, called "stative" verbs. These generally have translations that begin with Engish "to be": {ghal} "to be jealous (of)", {SuD} "to be green, blue, or yellow", etc.

{HoS}, when used as a verb, is just such a "stative" verb. When it follows a noun, it modifies the noun: {loD tIn} "large man", {be' mach} "small woman". So, {jIH HoS}, would, indeed, be "strong monitor".

Just remember that not every verb can do this.

But otherwise you've got the concept. }}: )

[Kudara]

How about: I accept what follows my actions?

accept v. Iaj

Follow (a course) v. ghoS

action v. vang

Ah this is a first stab at a translation, be kind please

ghoS vang jIIaj- I accept what follows my actions.

or maybe use vIchenmoH?  I cause to take shape

vIchenmoH jIIaj  (I accept what I caused to take shape)

Obviously I need to relearn how you figure out what the subject verb and object are.  Grammar was never one of my favorite subjects.

[ngabwI]

Obviously I need to relearn how you figure out what the subject verb and object are.  Grammar was never one of my favorite subjects.

Well, I can help with the "subject, verb, object" thing. In any sentence, a verb is the word describing the action of the sentence. The subject is the one doing the verb, and the object is the noun describing what the verb was done to. I'll demonstrate:

"I throw the knife."

What is the action described in this sentence? (the verb)
"throw"
Who's doing the throwing? (the subject)
I am.
What am I throwing? (the object)
The knife.

How about: I accept what follows my actions?

accept v. Iaj

Follow (a course) v. ghoS

action v. vang

Ah this is a first stab at a translation, be kind please

ghoS vang jIIaj- I accept what follows my actions.

This is three separate sentences: "She goes along a course. He acts. I accept."

As of this writing, {vang} is only a verb, and cannot be used as a noun. I think this where you're getting mixed-up.

But your idea of "I accept what follows my actions" might be doable, but with a recast. I would phrase it "I accept the events which I cause to happen.", which translates very well:

{wanI'mey vIqaSmoHbogh vIlaj}

{wanI'} "event" n.
{-mey} general plural, type 2 noun suffix
{vI-} "I-him/her/it/them" verb prefix
{qaS} "to happen" v.
{-moH} "cause to", type 4 verb suffix
{-bogh} "which, that" (relative clause marker) type 9 verb suffix
{laj} "to accept" v.

or maybe use vIchenmoH?  I cause to take shape

vIchenmoH jIIaj  (I accept what I caused to take shape)

This would be {Dochmey vIchenmoHbogh vIlaj} "I accept the things which I cause to take shape.", but this would mean that you accept stuff that you make. (houses, cookies, clothing, etc.)

This would not be said of events, or even poetry, stories, sculpture, etc. Those require different verbs.

Clear as mud? }}: )

If you'd like, I can point you in the direction of some excellent resources for beginners, as well as aid you in getting ahold of other canon sources ("The Klingon Way", "Klingon for the Galactic Traveler", the Bird of Prey poster, etc.) Post here, private message me, email me privately, stand outside my house with a bullhorn, etc., just let me know. I'm only too happy to help.

HovpoH 701668.0

[Kudara]

Somewhat clearer than mud

I would be interested in knowing about what beginner resources you are referring to.

This language is seriously reminding me of Latin, which means that I definately need to relearn basic grammar to even take a stab at translating accurately.

K'dara

[ngabwI]

Somewhat clearer than mud

Glad to hear it. }}: )

I would be interested in knowing about what beginner resources you are referring to.

Well, if you don't already know about it, there's the Klingon Language Institute at http://kli.org
This is one-stop-shopping for getting started in the language. On the front page, toward the bottom, you will find links to a postal course, a mailing list, recordings of the sounds of Klingon, even e-greeting cards. The KLI handles everything having to do with {tlhIngan Hol}. The KIDC does everything else. }}: )

As for other resources, I understand the KIDC has a partnership with Powell's books, who can probably get ahold of much of the other canon ("The Klingon Way", "Klingon for the Galactic Traveler", etc.)

(Kesvirit, you have carte blanche to edit this post to link to Powell's. -SW)

This language is seriously reminding me of Latin, which means that I definately need to relearn basic grammar to even take a stab at translating accurately.

I am available both here and on the KLI's list to answer any questions you may have.

HovpoH 701669.1

[Kesvirit]

ngabwI': (Kesvirit, you have carte blanche to edit this post to link to Powell's. -SW)

{qatlho'.} I thank you.  }}: )
Apparently the edit did not stick. I suspect the culprits were crumbling cookies. They were delicious.

Obligatory plug: The Forums get a small cut for every book purchase made through them. It is not much, but every little bit helps keep the Forums up and running.

For the student of the Hol, serious or otherwise, I recommend the following books in the following order:

The Klingon Dictionary (If they have them in stock, I recommend you go with the larger trade paperback ISBN: 0-671-74559.  It contains a bit more material.)
Klingon for the Galactic Traveler
The Klingon Way[/list]The links will take you straight to the books.
For general new, used, and out-of-print book shopping, click here to go to Powell's Books.

-=- Kesvirit