Speaking
The verb jatlh ("speak") takes as its object a noun that represents the thing being spoken - Hol a languge, SoQ a speech, lecture, or adddress, mu'ghom a sentence, etc. The indirect object (the listener) is marked using -vaD ("for, to").
tlhIngan Hol Dajatlh - You speak Klingon.
SoQ Dajatlh - You deliver a speech. (SoQ - speech)
qama'pu'vaD tlhIngan Hol Dajatlh - You speak Klingon to the prisoners.
qama'pu'vaD SoQ Dajatlh - You deliver a speech to the prisoners.
When the hearer is first or second person, the pronominal prefix typically used for objects is interpreted as referring to the indirect object (the listener). Since “you” or “I” cannot be the object of jatlh (you cannot “speak” a person), the object in such cases must be what is spoken, and the person is the recipient of the speech.
qajatlh - I speak to you.
Sajatlh - I speak to you (plural).
chojatlh - You speak to me.
tlhIngan Hol qajatlh - I speak Klingon to you.
There are several other verbs that work in the same way as jatlh. Collectively they are known as verbs of speech. The list of known words of speech contains jatlh speak, ja' tell, jang reply, and HIt think, speak to oneself. Some people add tlhob ask to this list based on it's usage, even though it was originally excluded. There are a few verbs that have specifically been said are not verbs of speech. They include jach scream, ghel ask a question, and yu' interrogate.
Quotations
Verbs of speech may be used to introduce direct quotations. The quoted phrase can come either before or after the verb:
tlhIngan jIH jatlh - He/she says, "I am a Klingon."
jatlh tlhIngan jIH - He/she says, "I am a Klingon."
tlhIngan jIH jIjatlh - I say, "I am a Klingon."
bIjatlh tlhIngan jIH - You say, "I am a Klingon."
wIjwI' ghaH qajatlh - I say to you, "He is a Farmer."
Care should be taken with prefixes, as they can change the meaning significantly:
tlhIngan Hol Dajatlh - You speak Klingon.
tlhIngan Hol bIjatlh - You say "Klingon language."
The first example means you are using the Klingon language. The second means you simply said the phrase "Klingon language." The difference is subtle but important.
However, depending on the content, tlhIngan Hol Dajatlh could mean You say to her, "Klingon language".
In English other words can be used to talk about speech (she added, he whined) but these are not verbs of speech. To add this kind of nuance, use a verb of speech along with the other verb:
vIng be'nI'wI'. 'a vIneH! jatlh - My sister whined, "but I want it!"
'ej veQ DawoDnIS 'e' yIlIjQo' jatlh SoSwI'. chel - "And don't forget to throw away the trash", my mother added.
Literally these sentences mean My sister whines. But I want it. She said. and And you need to throw away the trash. Don't forget that. My mother says. She added.