tlhIngan-Hol Archive: Tue Aug 05 14:39:24 2003
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Re: Klingon WOTD: Qop (v)
The word {Qop} means "be worn out" and is usually applied to old
weapons, tools, mechanical devices, and the like. It is also used
to mean "be dead," but only in reference to an animal that one
was expecting to eat live. If a bowl of dead {qagh} ("gagh, serpent
worms") is placed before a Klingon, the disappointed diner will
probably criticize the cook for preparing {qagh Qop} ("dead gagh").
The normal way to say "be dead," referring to a person or animal,
is by using the form {Heghpu'} ("has died"): {Heghpu' SuvwI'}
("The warrior has died"). It is not appropriate to say {SuvwI' Qop}
("dead warrior, worn-out warrior.") [KGT 163]
Mitchell Willie asks WRT the final sentence:
>Just out of curiosity, could one use that construction in a negative,
>or insulting manner? (like the use of joHwIj?)
You read the citation in its entirety so you have as much information as
the rest of us WRT this word. We have no idea how *{SuvwI' Qop} would be
received -- as an insulting, but clever, play on words or an egregious
display of one's ignorance. Either way, I'd recommend checking that your
weapon is within easy reach before attempting it... just in case <g>.
Here are some miscellaneous quotations on linguistic appropriateness from
_Klingon for the Galactic Traveller_:
"Of course using a language involves choosing appropriate vocabulary and
following the rules of pronunciation and grammar, but the particular way
language is used--the particular words chosen and the particular
constructions employed--is determined partly by the meaning that the
speaker wants to convey, but also partly by who the speaker is, the
speaker's relationship to the addressee, the type of information being
imparted, and the locale of the conversation or nature of the occasion
during which it is taking place." [KGT 2f.]
"There are the differences of age, of class, of region, and of
participation in specialized activities. All of these differences are
reflected in the way the people speak. In addition, there are occasions
where strict adherence to grammatical rules and use of the most traditional
vocabulary is appropriate, and other occasions where a somewhat different
set of rules applies and newer words and expressions are used." [KGT 3]
"Klingons take their language very seriously, and this includes not only
the vocabulary and grammar but also the rules of usage. Just as a traveler
who behaves in an abnormal way is an object of suspicion and probably not
to be trusted, a traveler who speaks inappropriately--even if the words and
grammar are, strictly speaking, correct--is sure to encounter disapproval,
if not rejection or even retribution. It is against this background that
this guide, _Klingon for the Galactic Traveler_, has been prepared." [KGT 4]
"As children learn their language, they give distinct pronunciations to
certain sounds, lack a full grasp of the grammar, and use some words in
ways adults find inappropriate." [KGT 31]
"No one accepts such constructions as grammatical; their inappropriateness,
the way they grate on the Klingon ear, is exactly what gives them
elocutionary clout. A visitor may hear one of these odd suffixes
occasionally, but, as with other intentionally ungrammatical forms, it is
best to avoid using them until one is extremely comfortable with the
nuances of Klingon style." [KGT 181]
"It is crucial that the right terms be used in the right contexts, however.
To call a Klingon by an inappropriate name or title is to dishonor him or
her and is never tolerated." [KGT 197]
--
Voragh
Ca'Non Master of the Klingons