tlhIngan-Hol Archive: Sun Jun 18 09:52:29 1995
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Re: Beowulf
yodtargh jang 'anreyaS:
Thank you for your latest missive. It has given me a lot to think
about. I shall have to consider very carefully before I attempt to
translate any more of this excellent poem into Old English. Although I
do hope to keep trying. Eperimenting with language is one of the best
methods of learning.
jatlh be'wuv: Dunchugh toDujDaj, pIj HeghvaD ghaHbe' loD'e' toD San.
(Fate often saves the man not yet destined for death, if his valour is
great. ll. 572-573)
For the record I studied OE as an undergraduate, and I have returned
to study a postgraduate paper dedicated to Beowulf. My first copy of the
TKD I got in 1993. I now have both editions and one tape. The version
of the Beowulf text I am using is a slightly older edition of Wrenn and
Bolton that some Anglo-Saxon students in the group may recognise.
(After half a year the University Book Shop has not restocked the latest
edition, still on transit from the UK!)
>
> On the other hand, I understand that the Anglo-Saxons did have a classed
> society. I prefer using {qumwI'} or {ta'Hom} for King. I think they are
> also using {ta'} for King in the Hamlet restoration project.
>
This information is useful to know and will be taken into account in
my translation. According to the Medieval Society that I am part of
Anglo-Saxon society are classed as theows (indentured servants), churls,
thanes, eorlas (important nobility), and the king.
>
> I would stick to the original "weox under wolcnum" and say {chal bIngDaq
> tInchoHtaH ghaH 'ej balth chep.} (He grew (continuously became big) under
> the sky and prospered with honor.)
>
I can see why some people have made data bases incorporating all known
Klingon words. {chal} escaped my notice when I was translating this
passage which is why I used {logh}, an ambiguous and unsuitable word.
Some more familiarity with the Dictionary is called for.
>
> I would love to see Beowulf written in Klingon. But if I undertake a
> project, I want to do it right. If I were going to translate Beowulf
> into Klingon, I would want to adhere as closely as possible to the
> original Old English. But to figure out the meaning of the original Old
> English and then translate it into Klingon is a very slow and
> painstaking process for me. I would want to study Old English in
> greater depth before helping you with this. It would probably take me
> months to accomplish this task. If you are familiar with Old English, I
> suggest you develop your knowledge of Klingon first, before undertaking
> such an ambitious project. On the other hand, if there are any expert
> Klingonists out there who happen to have a good knowledge of Old English,
> perhaps they could help you. Takers anyone?
>
toH. yIghomjaj ghojwi'pu' Duchmey tIQ. (Indeed. Let the students of
antiquities assemble) And I mean that in the nicest possible way.
These are some of my favorite antiquities too.
> yoDtargh
>
'anreyaS
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...so am I.