tlhIngan-Hol Archive: Thu Aug 10 07:56:57 2006

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Re: Klingon WOTD: boq (noun)

Steven Boozer ([email protected])



>This is the Klingon Word Of The Day for Thursday, August 10, 2006.
>
>Klingon word:   boq
>Part of Speech: noun
>Definition:     alliance
>
>Homonyms:       boq (noun) - bloc, coalition

Not a homonym, just an extended definition.  Cf. the HolQeD discussion below.

Used in canon:

   taHjaj boq
   ["Long live the alliance! May the alliance continue!" (untranslated)] 
(TKD 173)

   boq lucherDI' tlhIngan wo' romuluS Hov wo' je So'wI' cham Suqpu' 
tlhIngan wo'.
   Cloaking technology was gained through an alliance with the Romulan Star 
Empire... S33

>Additional Notes:
> From "Okrand's Notes," HolQeD 4:4 p. 11: Also "bloc" or "coalition," 
> though "coalition" is sometimes {boq ru'}, literally "temporary alliance".

   Some additional information has come to light regarding words
   relating to groups or assemblies. Among those words already
   well-known for different types of groups are: {boq} "alliance"
   (also "bloc" or "coalition", though "coalition" is sometimes
   {boq ru'}, literally "temporary alliance"); {DIvI'} "federation"
   or "organization" (also "association, league, union"); {ghom}
   "group" or "party" (also "band", in the nonmusical sense); ...
   (also {ghom'a'}) "crowd". Add to this list: {tlhach} "faction"
   or "sect".                            [HolQeD 4.4:11 "Groups"]

Cultural notes:

   Various fleets and squadrons are loyal to various houses, though,
   as might be expected, the details of these alliances are subject
   to change." (KGT 38)

   The idiom {bIQ'a'Daq 'oHtaH 'etlh'e'} ("The sword is in the ocean")
   is used to mean that something has ended, that it is impossible to
   return to a prior condition, just as Kahless and Morath never spoke
   to each other again. The expression might be used, for example, in
   reference to a treaty that was just signed, suggesting that a former
   state of antagonism has ended forever. Of course, simply saying that
   something will last forever does not make it so. If an alliance ends,
   the phrase is equally apt: the era of peace has ended, and the sword
   is in the ocean--there is no going back. (KGT 121-22)]


>Homonyms:
>     boq (verb) - ally with

{boq}         ally with, form an alliance with
{boqHa'}      dis-ally, dissociate from
{boqHa''egh}  dis-ally from oneself, dissociate from oneself
{boq'egh}     ally with oneself

These verbs are also used in math for addition, subtraction, division and 
multiplication respectively.

Note the additional homonym {boq} "fusion (n)".  E.g.

   Hong boq chuyDaH:  loS
   Impulse Fusion Thrusters ? 4  (KBoP)

though one might argue that this is also a type of alliance or bloc:  i.e. 
not of people but of atomic particles.  Hmm... I wonder if the four {boq} 
verbs are also used in particle physics?



--
Voragh
Ca'Non Master of the Klingons






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