tlhIngan-Hol Archive: Mon Feb 13 08:08:43 2006

Back to archive top level

To this year's listing



[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next]

Re: Klingon WOTD: tlhuH (verb)

Steven Boozer ([email protected])



>This is the Klingon Word Of The Day for Thursday, February 9, 2006.
>
>Klingon word:   tlhuH
>Part of Speech: verb
>Definition:     be exhilarated, stimulated, invigorated

Note:  this is a slang term:

   Literally meaning "breathe", this word is used in such expressions
   as {jItlhuH} ("I am exhilarated, it's exhilarating to me"; literally,
   "I breathe"). Perhaps a near equivalent in standard Klingon is {Sey}
   ("be excited"). (KGT 165)

Cultural note:

   Klingons have always considered it truly invigorating to face danger.
   As commander Kruge said to Captain Kirk while the Genesis planet on
   which they were stranded was quickly falling apart, "Exhilarating,
   isn't it?" (TKW 73; ST3)

>Synonyms: pIl

{pIl} "be stimulated, be inspired, be motivated" is the non-slang equivalent.

Cf. {pIlmoH} "stimulate, inspire, motivate":

   Though one occasionally hears someone say {QoQ tIv} ("He/she enjoys
   [the] music") or {bom tIv} ("He/she enjoys the song"), music is not
   really considered something that causes pleasure. Among Klingons,
   pleasure is deemed quite unessential for one's well-being. More
   frequently, the appreciation of music is expressed in terms of
   something that music does to the listener rather than in terms of
   the listener's reaction. Thus, music is said to embolden ({jaqmoH}),
   excite ({SeymoH}), encourage ({tungHa'}), or to stimulate or inspire
   ({pIlmoH}).  (KGT 71)]

>Homonyms:
>     tlhuH (verb) - breathe
>     tlhuH (noun) - breath

   Air, for example, comes into and out of the nose or mouth. The word
   for "breath" is {tlhuH}, and that for "breathe" is also {tlhuH}. To
   breathe in, or "inhale", is {pur}; to breathe out, or "exhale", is
   {rech}. To breathe noisily, or "wheeze", is {jev}. ... To breathe
   even more noisily, or "snore", is {wuD}.   [HolQeD 12.4:8]

As used in canon:

   Suvbe'chugh SuvwI' tlhuHbe' SuvwI'
   If a warrior does not fight, he does not breathe. TKW

   jItlhuH
   I breathe. KGT

Cf. also {Hob} "yawn", {ruq} "belch", {tlhov} "wheeze" and {chuy} "sneeze".

The difference between {jev} and {tlhov} for "wheeze" is unknown.  (Since 
{jev} is also a weather verb meaning "storm" it's possible that it's used 
more for the sound a wheezing person makes while {tlhov} may be somewhat 
more medical, referring more to the physiological act of wheezing.)



--
Voragh
Ca'Non Master of the Klingons






Back to archive top level