2013-08-12

Expressing Uncertainty: -law'

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This is the fourth and last Type 6 qualification suffix.

-law' seemingly, apparently

This suffix allows the expression of doubt on the speaker's part. The speaker uses -law' when what is being observed might not be the thing that is happening.

One way of translating this kind of sentence is with the words apparently or seemingly. It can also be expressed as "think that" or "suspect that:-"

tlhIngan Soj vISoplaw'I think that I am eating Klingon food
yIHmey bIHlaw'I think that they are tribbles
chaq DaH lojmItvam wISoQnISlaw'I think we may need to close this door now
ghorgh qaSlaw'pu' wanI'vamWhen did this apparently happen?/
(could also possibly be translated as "When do you think this happened?")
nobvetlh qemlaw'ta' 'oSwI'I suspect that the Emissary brought that gift
nuHmeyvam lo'law' tlhInganpu'Klingons apparently use these weapons

Next: The Type 8 Suffix -neS.

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