tlhIngan-Hol Archive: Thu Mar 11 09:31:57 1999
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Re: tlhingan weights and measures
Voragh:
: Finally, {qegh} may also refer generally to vats used in cooking, though
: there are of course more specific terms:
:
: The equipment needed for the preparation of Klingon food is rather
: minimal, consisting pretty much of pots or vats ... A square or
: rectangular tub used to hold food while it is fermenting is called
: a {'Ib}. (KGT:97)
peHruS:
: naDev mu' {qegh} 'oSbe' mu' {*vats} 'e' vIHar. mu' {'Ib} neH vIlo'qang.
Possibly. It depends on whether {'Ib} is a general or a specific term.
Here's the quote in full:
The equipment needed for the preparation of Klingon food is rather
minimal, consisting pretty much of pots or vats plus cutting and
stirring implements of various sorts. The general term for a pot
is {'un}. Pots that may be put on top of a fire in order to heat
their contents are made of metal (baS); others may be made of either
metal or ceramic material ({nagh} [literally, "stone"]). A {bargh}
is probably the most frequently used pot. It is rather large and
has a flattened bottom. The smaller {nevDagh} is characterized by
its V-shaped handles, termed {DeSqIvDu'} ("elbows"; note the {-Du'},
the plural suffix for body parts is used here even though the handles
are not literally body parts). A square or rectangular tub used to
hold food while it is fermenting is called a {'Ib}, and a cook's
ever-present supply of {chanDoq} ("marinade") is kept in a large
{bal} ("jug, jar, bottle"). (KGT p.97)
Okrand first gives the general term for "pot (for food preparation)" {'un},
followed by two specific types of pots: {bargh} and {nevDagh}. He then
presents {'Ib}, which I interpret as yet another specialized type of
cooking pot: i.e. a large vat to hold food "while it is fermenting" (i.e. a
fermentation vat), while peHruS interprets it as any type of vat. If {'Ib}
is a general term, the distinction may be one of shape (square or
rectangular {'Ib} vs. round {qegh}) or purpose ({'Ib} for food preparation
{vut} vs. {qegh} for long-term storage {ngaS, choq}). The difference could
also be the type of liquid contained.
The KGT glossary entry for {qegh} is "vat, barrel (for storage of liquor)".
Is the parenthetical comment limiting or exemplary in nature? IOW, are
{qeghmey} only used for storing alcoholic beverages (HIq} or can they also
be used for storing large amounts of other liquids (water or fuel for
example)? We know that ale {wornagh}, another type of {HIq}, "is often
stored in a large vat ({qegh}) rather than in a {bal}" and that for smaller
amounts of liquids, Klingons use a {bal}, defined as "any bottle or jug
used to store liquid" (both KGT p98f). Note, a {bal} is used for any type
of liquid--e.g. {HIq} "liquor", {chanDoq} "marinade" and {qettlhup} which
are mentioned passim in KGT.
--
Voragh
Ca'Non Master of the Klingons