Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Language/2024 June 18

= June 18 =

Île Verte (Grenoble)
The first line of article is L'Île Verte..., here the L is left un bolded. Is there a reason for it or it is a mistake. Exclusive Editor Notify Me! 10:31, 18 June 2024 (UTC)
 * It's an article, not part of the actual name. 惑乱 Wakuran (talk) 10:35, 18 June 2024 (UTC)
 * Although it's arguable why to use a French article in the first place, I guess... 惑乱 Wakuran (talk) 10:36, 18 June 2024 (UTC)
 * I agree. It should either be "The Île Verte" or simply "Île Verte". Clarityfiend (talk) 01:26, 19 June 2024 (UTC)
 * I'm going to boldly remove the "L'". Clarityfiend (talk) 02:55, 19 June 2024 (UTC)

Klingon
In the Klingon language, does "MaSuv QaQ" mean "Against corruption"? (Question inspired by a level in "Lily's Garden".) 2601:646:8082:BA0:FDFD:D0C8:7BA1:6883 (talk) 11:52, 18 June 2024 (UTC)


 * I found maSuv in this Klingon fanzine as part of the Klingon Anthem, where it means "we fight", and QaQ in this Klingon epic poem by Marc Okrand, where it appears to mean "instinct". But here in the Klingon word wiki it's translated as "be good". I tentatively suggest a meaning similar to "Fight the Good Fight". "[To] be good we fight"? Card Zero  (talk) 06:17, 19 June 2024 (UTC)
 * Wiktionary defines ma- as "verbal prefix', used with a first person plural subject and no object in the indicative mood", Suv as "to fight", and QaQ as, "(stative verb) to be good". While I'm not familiar with Klingon grammar, the meaning is more plausibly "It is good that we fight". This fits well with the prevailing Klingon cultural attitude before TNG ("Klingons are born to fight and conquer"). --Lambiam 18:44, 19 June 2024 (UTC)


 * Have you tried asking Marc Okrand? ←Baseball Bugs What's up, Doc? carrots→ 08:06, 19 June 2024 (UTC)
 * If you can't get hold of him, the Wikipedians in Category:User tlh claim to be able to contribute in Klingon and may be able to help. @An guy with one grammatical error claims to know it to a professional level. AlmostReadytoFly (talk) 08:38, 19 June 2024 (UTC)
 * Thanks! So, "We fight the good fight" -- which could include fighting against corruption, but is much broader than that, right?  (Because it might also mean fighting against terrorism, or drug trafficking, or a whole bunch of other evils!) 2601:646:8082:BA0:649B:7753:3C84:C70D (talk) 10:14, 19 June 2024 (UTC)
 * There are people who pay for Klingon korrections? Clarityfiend (talk) 02:07, 24 June 2024 (UTC)
 * I appear to have been rather late, but I believe it is in fact closer "We fight the good fight" or "We fight for the better (cause)", something around those lines! An guy with one grammatical error (talk) 18:27, 24 June 2024 (UTC)