tlhIngan-Hol Archive: Wed Jul 14 11:25:52 2004

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RE: Klingon WOTD: qum (v)

d'Armond Speers, Ph.D. ([email protected]) [KLI Member] [Hol po'wI']

>> Related verbs include {che'} rule, {ghatlh} dominate, {vu'} manage,
>> {loH}
>
> [...]
>
> Once I made up the word {che'DechqaH}, just for "narrative reasons"
(nothing
> that is either ready-written or anywhere published, yet; probably won't
ever
> be <g>).
>
> Would anybody of you intentionally know what I mean by that (Yes, I
> perfectly know that it's non-canon. but just give it a try, maybe.)? Just
in
> order to find that out, I do not mention my intension.

I was just saying elsewhere how I almost *never* get it when people make up
circumlocutions like this.  When I see this word, the first thing that goes
through my mind is "that's an impossible word."  It makes me think the
author doesn't really have a command of the language, and is struggling with
some difficult concept.

Then I have to try and grok the meaning.  Now I'm not reading your story
anymore, I'm teasing apart this impossible word.  Okay.  {che'} is a verb,
"rule, run, reign, preside."  {Dech} is a verb, "surround."  {qaH} is a
noun, "sir."  What would you make of "reign-surround-sir"?  Perhaps I'm just
thick, but it sounds like nonsense to me.  I'm not being pedantic because
it's bad grammar, I just don't get it.

Even if by some chance I do figure out what you meant, I'm so completely
distracted by the effort that, as a storyteller, you've lost me.  You're
putting the burden on your reader to figure out what this crazy word means,
rather than putting the burden on yourself as a storyteller to use the
language effectively to communicate your intent.

But that's just me.  :)

> Satlho,
> qIno'rIq

--Holtej 'utlh
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