Portal:grammar – Klingon Language Wiki

Grammar Portal
Klingon Language • KLI • Star Trek • Grammar • Vocabulary • Canon Sources • People • Phrases and Expressions • Software • Appearance

The Klingon grammar is really not difficult. Beginners may ask a new question at the page of beginners' questions. Advanced speakers my find some interesting grammar questions. If you are not familiar with all that linguistics stuff, read the article about grammatical terms first.

It should be remembered that even though the rules say "always" and "never," when Klingon is actually spoken these rules are sometimes broken. (1)

Overview

The best way to make an overview of the Klingon Grammar is using the chapters of Marc Okrand's The Klingon Dictionary. This also makes it easier to look up in the book.

1. The sounds of Klingon
- 1.1. Consonants
- 1.2. Vowels
- 1.3. Stress

2. Grammatical Sketch - Introduction
- This chapter in TKD contains no information, but is listed here to avoid a gap between 1 and 3.

3. Nouns
- 3.1. Simple nouns
- 3.2. Complex nouns
  - 3.2.1. compound nouns
  - 3.2.2. verb plus -wI'
  - 3.2.3. Other complex nouns
- 3.3. Suffixes
  - 3.3.1. Type 1: Augmentative/diminutive/endearment
  - 3.3.2. Type 2: Number
  - 3.3.3. Type 3: Qualification
  - 3.3.4. Type 4: Possession/specification
  - 3.3.5. Type 5: Syntactic markers
  - 3.3.6. Relative ordering of the suffixes
- 3.4. The noun-noun construction

4. Verbs
- Some verbs are not clear how to use. See a list of questionable verbs
- 4.1. Pronominal prefixes
  - Read a discussion about transitivity
  - How to use the Prefix Trick
  - 4.1.1. Basic prefixes
  - 4.1.2. Imperative prefixes
  - 4.1.3. Notational conventions
- 4.2. Suffixes
  - 4.2.1. Type 1: Oneself/one another
  - 4.2.2. Type 2: Volition/predisposition
  - 4.2.3. Type 3: Change
  - 4.2.4. Type 4: Cause
  - 4.2.5. Type 5: Indefinite subject/ability
  - 4.2.6. Type 6: Qualification
  - 4.2.7. Type 7: Aspect
    - Many people confuse this with Tense, which Klingon does not have.
  - 4.2.8. Type 8: Honorific
  - 4.2.9. Type 9: Syntactic markers
  - 4.2.10. Relative ordering of the suffixes
- 4.3. Rovers
- 4.4. Adjectives

5. Other kinds of words
- 5.1. Pronouns
- 5.2. Numbers
- 5.3. Conjunction
- 5.4. Adverbials
  - Comparing Adverbs
- 5.5. Exclamations
- 5.6. Names and address
  - See also a list of klingon names

6. Syntax
- 6.1. Basic sentences
- 6.2. Complex sentences
  - 6.2.1. Compound sentences
  - 6.2.2. Subordinate Clauses
  - 6.2.3. Relative clauses
  - 6.2.4. Purpose clauses
  - 6.2.5. Sentence as object
    - Question as object
- 6.3. To Be
- 6.4. Questions
- 6.5. Commands
- 6.6. Comparatives and superlatives
- 6.7. Placement of adverbial elements
- 6.8. Indirect objects

7. Clipped Klingon
- 7.1. Commands
- 7.2. Responses to commands, status reports
- 7.3. Duress, excitement

References

1 : Marc Okrand, 1985, Introduction to The Klingon Dictionary

Latest changes in this category:

SentenceAsObject (24 Nov 2020 - 14:25) - AncientKlingon (24 Nov 2020 - 14:20) - Verb-centric (10 Nov 2020 - 05:54) - Locatives (28 Oct 2020 - 13:16) - PrefixTrick (13 Oct 2020 - 05:58) - Verb (13 Oct 2020 - 05:53) - Type5NounSuffixes (11 Oct 2020 - 13:32) - Emphasis (11 Oct 2020 - 13:31) - PortalGrammar (07 Oct 2020 - 21:08) - Intransitive (07 Oct 2020 - 14:51) - InherentPlural (06 Oct 2020 - 07:49) - SubordinateClause (06 Oct 2020 - 07:22) - CompoundSentences (06 Oct 2020 - 07:21) - BasicSentences (06 Oct 2020 - 07:21) - RelativeClause (06 Oct 2020 - 07:20) - Prefix (06 Oct 2020 - 07:19) - Conjunction (06 Oct 2020 - 07:18) - VerbSuffixes (06 Oct 2020 - 07:17) - ClippedKlingon (06 Oct 2020 - 07:14) - Aspect (06 Oct 2020 - 07:11) -