Complex Nouns and Derivation
Complex nouns are nouns, as stated above, that are made up of more than one base noun, a base noun plus one or more modifiers, or an already complex noun with one or more modifiers.
Derivational Order
Modifiers have a derivational order in which they interact with a noun. A Type 1 modifier, for example, comes directly after the base or otherwise unmodified noun, Type 2 would follow Type 1 and so on. If there is no Type 1, though there is a Type 2, then the Type 2 modifier would come after the unmodified noun.
Type 1: Augmentative / Diminutive
-'a',
-Hom,
-oy
-'a'
This modifier connotes a bigger, more important or more powerful version of the unmodified noun. It is referred to as the augmentative in Klingon.
-Hom
In contrast to
-'a',
-Hom is the diminutive modifier in Klingon, connoting a sense of smallness, less important or less powerful.
-oy
This is the endearment modifier. This is an infrequently used modifier, and the only known modifier to begin in a vowel (though in cases of a noun ending in a vowel, speakers are known to add <
'>, changing the modifier to
-'oy). The use of this modifier is to show endearment, closeness, fondness or other such ideas. It is suggested that non-natives exercise a certain amount of trepidation when using this modifier, unless the speaker is sure that it is appropriate, and that it will not invite unwanted hostility or sexual advancements.
Examples:
SuS wind, breeze SuS'a' strong wind SuSHom wisp of air
Qagh mistake Qagh'a' major mistake QaghHom minor blunder
pa' room pa''a' massive room, great hall pa'Hom tiny room, closet
puq child puqoy kid, kiddo
targh targ targhoy beloved pet targ
Type 2: Number
In Klingon, a noun can be either singular or plural depending on context, and when the sentence clearly implies plurality, a plural marker is not always necessary. For example,
yaS jIH means
I am an officer whereas
yaS maH means
we are officers,
yaS being singular or plural based solely on context. There are times where not marking can cause a certain amount of ambiguity, such as in a phrase like
yaS mojpu', which can either be translated as
s/he became an officer or
they became officers, however this rarely leads to a misunderstanding and can be made clearer either through further context or by adding a plural marker:
-pu',
-Du' and
-mey
-pu'
The plural marker
-pu' is used as a marker to pluralize beings capable of language. So one could say:
be'pu' women or
loDpu' men, but *
targhpu' is not a valid Klingon word, because targs are not capable of speech.
-Du'
The plural marker
-Du' is used to note plurality of body parts, whether the noun is capable of speech or not.
Examples:
qam foot,
qamDu' feet
tlhon nostril,
tlhonDu' nostrils
DeS arm,
DeSDu' arms
-mey
The final plurality marker is
-mey. When used with non-speaking nouns, it can be used as a general plurality marker. When used with a noun capable of speech it carries an idea of "scattered all about".
Examples:
mID colony,
mIDmey colonies
yuQ planet,
yuQmey planets
But:
puq child,
puqpu' children,
puqmey children all over the place
Technically,
-mey is not to be used in proper Klingon for body parts, however, a construct like
DeSmey is likely to be heard as a part of a particularly gruesome description.
Finally, some Klingon nouns are inherently plural. These inherently plural nouns are treated as grammatically singular in respect to verbs. Common examples of inherently plural nouns are:
ray' targets
cha torpedoes
chuyDaH thrusters (of a starship)
The singular counterparts are distinct words, and, in the case of inherently plural nouns vs. their singular counterpart, the words must simply be memorized.
DoS target
peng torpedo
vIj thruster
Furthermore, when it comes to the singular/inherently plural contrast, the pluralizer
-mey, when used with the contrasting non-plural form, always expresses the meaning of "scattered about".
DoSmey singular targets scattered about
pengmey singular torpedoes scattered about
vIjmey singular thrusters scattered about (maybe wreckage?)
Type 3: Qualification
-qoq,
-Hey,
-na'
Working somewhat like some Earth languages' evidentials, qualifications express the speaker's attitude toward the noun.
-qoq
So-called. This qualifier indicates that the noun is being used in a false, or ironic fashion.
-Hey
Apparent. This qualifier expresses the idea that the speaker is pretty sure the noun is accurate, though there may be some residual doubt.
-na'
Definite. This is considered that counterpart to
-Hey. It indicates there is no doubt in the speaker's miond as to the accuracy of the noun.
Examples:
Let's say that there are two Klingon warriors camping out in the wilderness. One Klingon hears a noise and believes he recognizes the sound as a wild targ. When referring to the targ, he might say
targhHey the apparent targ. Upon further inspection, he discovers it is in fact a targ, he would perhaps then refer to it as
targhna' definitely a targ. Now, let's say the set up is the same, but upon further inspection, the Klingon discovered it is not a targ but a small child. The second Klingon may laugh at him and she may refer to the child as
targhqoq so-called targ.
Type 4: Possession / Specification
The largest category of noun suffixes, this category covers all of what are translated into English as possessive pronouns, as well as proximity.
Possessive Suffixes:
1ps:
-wIj,
-wI'
2ps:
-lIj,
-lI'
3ps:
-Daj
1pp:
-maj,
-ma'
2pp:
-raj,
-ra'
3pp:
-chaj
The first entry is used with any noun incapable of speech, the second is used only with nouns capable of speech. Third person, both singular and plural, do not differentiate between those capable of speech and those not.
Although considered grammatically incorrect, one can use the inanimate possessives on animate nouns. This, of course, would come off as belittling or deklingonizing (dehumanizing
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).
In addition, the noun modifiers
-vam and
-vetlh belong to Type 4 modifiers. These modifiers relate proximity.
-vam
Commonly translated as
this,
-vam notes closeness to the speaker. When used with plural nouns, this is better translated as
these.
-vetlh
In contrast to
-vam,
-vetlh that expresses distance from the speaker. When used with plural nouns, it is likely translated as
those.
Examples:
tlhonraj your nostril
jolpa'vetlh that transporter room
woQwIj my power
targhchaj their targ
'ejDo'vam this starship
Type 5: Syntactic Marker
-Daq,
-vo',
-mo',
-vaD,
-'e'
Klingon makes use of five suffixes they have deemed syntactic markers. Some of these markers are similar to case systems known to be used in human languages.
-Daq locative
-vo' ablative
-mo' causal
-vaD benefactive
-'e' topic marker
The locative is used in Klingon is usually translated as
to, in, at, or
on. If a verb has an intrinsic notion of movement, the locative is not necessary, but not grammatically incorrect. The ablative is used like the locative, though only expresses movement away. The causal is translated as
due to or
because of. The benefactive is often translated as
for, or
intended for. Finally, the topic marker is used to mark the topic, or for emphasis. The topic marker will be covered more clearly later on, but here are examples for the other four syntactic markers:
pa'Daq in the room
pa'vo' from the room
yaSmo' due to the officer, because of the officer
yaSvaD for (the benefit of) the officer
Suffix Order
As related above, there is a clear order for suffixes in Klingon. This order is: Noun(1)(2)(3)(4)(5).
Example:
QaghHommeyHeylIjmo' Due to your apparent minor errors
Qagh-Hom-mey-Hey-lIj-mo'
Error-DIMINUTIVE-PL-apparent-2psPOSS-CAUSAL
Noun-1-2-3-4-5
be'Hompu'vetlhvaD For those girls
be'-Hom-pu'-vetlh-vaD
Female-DIMINUTIVE-PL-PROX-BENE
Noun-1-2-4-5
targhqoqlIj'e' Your so-called targ
targh-qoq-lIj-'e'
Targ-so_called-2psPOSS-topic_marker
Noun-3-4-5
qeylIS) in the Earth's 9th Century, the Klingon Empire has since become a major factor in interstellar affairs. The Klingon homeworld is Qo'noS, commonly referred to as Kronos, and is located in the Alpha Quadrant. Well known Klingons include: Kahless the Unforgettable, who united Qo'noS after his battle with Molor; Kang ( 
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innovation in ![[:S]](./images/smilies/icon_confused2.png ":S"){kind=icon}
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