tlhIngan-Hol Archive: Wed Nov 08 05:46:15 1995
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re: Sign languages
- From: [email protected] (michiel uitdehaag)
- Subject: re: Sign languages
- Date: Wed, 08 Nov 1995 14:46:01 +0100 (CET)
>
> > What we might be forgetting is that sign languages are not only for
> > the
> > deaf. Both hunters and warriors use signs to communicate with their
> > comrades.
>
> While it's true this is certainly true, one might easily imagine a
> Klingon
> asking:
>
> "Where is the honor in sneaking up on your opponent?"
>
> Lawrence
I've recently had the pleasure of getting to see STTNG 'birthright' part I&II
and if I'm not mistaking, Worf and that youngster *sneaked* up on their prey.
They had to whisper and take care in not attacking upwind. If that's not
sneaking up, than what is??
Also, there's honour in sneaking up on your enemy, because he should have
been looking out better. You (as Klingon) would do that, so he should do that
to. Else he isn't a worthy opponent.
There's probably a very vague, yet distinct line between doing honourable
things that improve your chance of succes (e.g. sneaking up, apparently) and
doing dishonourable things that also improve your chance of succes (e.g.
killing weak children).
Sign language is very usefull, because it is tactics to not let your opponent
know what you're up to. Therefore I think that Klingon society has certainly
got a use for a very broad sign-language. Human society has only got use for
it when deaf people need to understand. Being deaf is probably cured with a
simple operation (being blind is curable too, look at Geordi) so
sign-language shall gradually become useless.
Not so in Klingon society where it is an art, usefull in combat.
BTW: signs can express certain hard-to-convey feelings. They can also be used
for complex objects or ideas which are easily described using a handmove or
two.
jejQIb