tlhIngan-Hol Archive: Tue Dec 03 18:42:02 1996

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RE: KLBC: interrogative punctuation

December 02, 1996 9:01 PM, jatlh HurghwI':

> jatlh SuStel:
> 
> >When a Klingon has something to say, he just says it.  If he has to get 
> >someone's attention first (not really necessary in a mailing-list format), 
he 
> >might shout {SuH}, {SU'}, {'eH}, or {SSS} (the last is not actually a word, 

> >but is a slurred form or {SuH}).  These all mean "Get ready!"  They 
indicate 
> >that the speaker is about to give a command.  {Su'} and {SuH} can also 
> >indicate that something is about to happen.
> 
> Wouldn't {SSS} be considered derogatory? It's like if you walked up to a
> terran and said "Here boy!" 

Not at all!  In fact, the Klingon captain in Star Trek: The Motion Picture 
says this very thing (although is also sounds a lot like *{'ISSS}.

{SSS} is simply another way to pronounce {SuH}.  All of these words may be 
used when addressing people or pets.  There is no difference.  Since you can't 
converse with your pet, though, you're probably going to have to use one of 
them with it a lot more than you would with a person.

-- 
SuStel
Beginners' Grammarian
Stardate 96925.3

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