tlhIngan-Hol Archive: Tue Apr 07 12:20:05 1998
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Re: Hi All!
- From: "Robyn Stewart" <[email protected]>
- Subject: Re: Hi All!
- Date: Tue, 7 Apr 1998 12:20:43 PST
- Organization: NLK Consultants, Inc.
- Priority: normal
John May writes:
> New to the list etc.
I'm Qov, the current Beginners' Grammarian. This isn't really a
question for me, as it's not about how to use the language, but I'll
answer it anyway, and I'm sure others will too.
> Is Klingon language structured/complete enough
> to interact at length conversationally or is it restricted to the
> small vocabulary gleaned from ST films and series?
The grammar, vocabulary and word-building tools are sufficient for
hust about any kind of linguistic interaction. Short stories, poetry
role-playing, and accounts of every day life are done in Klingon on
this list and on our MUSH site. There are a few vocabulary
shortcomings related to the fact that we live in a different universe
to the fictional Klingons, but we get around them: for example a
friend refers to his minivan as {Duj} - a vessel.
> Are there many people who can do this if it is indeed possible?
There are enough that when I spent 36 hours interacting ONLY in
Klingon at last year's conference, I rarely had trouble finding a
translator at a moment's notice. A table of us gathered one night to
tell stories in Klingon: I remember a suspenseful tale of revenge for
a slain pet and a Klingon-skewed retelling of the three little pigs.
Some people are better than others and no one speaks flawlessly, but
we manage.
> I wont be so crass as to ask why you do it, but was it an
> instant thing due to interest in language/s or did it develop as a
> progression from Trek related pursuits generaly?
In my case, both. I am now more interested in the language than the
show. The answer to why I do it is that it's an interesting language
with no native speakers and a vocabulary that makes it possible to
learn all the words. (I haven't yet: almost made it, then MO went
and published another book). I always found it irritating to study a
language for years and then meet children in the native country who
spoke it far better than me.
> Another question. Are you mainly young
> people?
I'm thirty-one and I think I'm close to average in age. There are a
few accomplished Klingonists young enough that one man who was
discussing his personal life in Klingon on this group suddenly
realized he should be censoring some of it. There are also a few
children of Klingonists exposed to the language since infancy.
> My yardstick is my own age of forty'ish, and are
> your familys, children(?) as interested as yourselves?
My husband tolerates it, and has inadvertantly learned quite a bit of
the language. I don't know of anyone who has a family as interested
as him or her.
> Now for a good bit for you to show off your skills: Anyone give me
> a few phrases to impress my friends with? Simple stuff with
> pronunciation please! How about: Hello (is there an equivalent?)
> Goodbye, and maybe a few choice insults. I realy like the Vulcan
> "Live long and prosper"_"Peace and long life". No direct equvalent
> here I'm sure but is there a Klingon ritual greeting?
The socially correct way to begin a Klingon conversation is to start
speaking about the main topic. To end the conversation, you leave.
A sample phrase? bIjeghbe'chugh vaj bIHegh
Pronounced as it is spelled, with the stress on jegh and Hegh in the
polysyllabic words. For the sounds the letters make, consult:
/kli/sounds.html
It means "surrender or die"
Qov