Re: Positioning for emphasis

On 9/14/07, MorphemeAddict@wmconnect.com <MorphemeAddict@...> wrote:
> In a message dated 9/14/2007 7:42:35 AM Central Daylight Time,
> philip.newton@GMAIL.COM writes:
>
>
> > On 9/14/07, MorphemeAddict@wmconnect.com <MorphemeAddict@...>
> > wrote:
> > > Klingon has a very rigid word order.  It's OVS.
> >
> > It does let you front a topic, though, so I daresay one could replace
> > {yaS qIp puq} "the child hit the officer" with {puq'e' yaS qIp} "As
> > for the child, (it) hit the officer". I don't think you'd have to use
> > a resumptive pronoun.
> >
> > Cheers,
> > --
> > Philip Newton <philip.newton@...>
> >
>
> I don't think you even could use a resumptive pronoun (which I've never heard
> used in connection with Klingon).
You've never heard the term used in connection with Klingon, or you've
never heard a resumptive pronoun being used?

Generally, Klingon seems to like resumptive pronouns or even repeated
nouns, at least in situations such as {yaS legh puq 'ej ghaH qIp ghaH}
"the child sees and hits the officer" (literally, "the child sees the
officer and it hits him"), {jagh luHoHmeH jagh lunejtaH} "They are
searching for the enemy in order to kill him/her" (literally, "...in
order to kill the enemy").

The pronoun can be left out, but Klingon seems to like leaving in the
noun or replacing it by a pronoun more than, say, English. At least,
that's the impression I got from TKD.

> A pronoun in the position of a resumptive
> pronoun would likely be considered a different entity from the one in the
> fronted topic.
That's possible.

> But yes, topics can be used for emphasis.
>
> {jIlugh'a'?}
jISovchu'be'.
--
Philip Newton <philip.newton@...>