tlhIngan-Hol Archive: Wed Feb 22 07:25:58 2006
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Re: Klingon WOTD: maqoch (noun)
>This is the Klingon Word Of The Day for Wednesday, February 22, 2006.
>
>Klingon word: maqoch
>Part of Speech: noun
>Definition: buddy, pal, close male friend of a male
Used in canon:
maqoch 'Iw HIq yItlhutlh
Pal, drink the bloodwine (KGT)
Discussed by Okrand (KGT 202-203):
The word {maqoch}, sometimes translated as "buddy" or "pal", is used
most often by a male addressing another male who is a good friend, as in
{maqoch 'Iw HIq yItlhutlh} ("Pal, drink the bloodwine"). When used in such
a context, it signifies genuine companionship. If, however, it is used by
someone who is definitely not a good friend, such as a member of a house
with which one has been feuding, it is considered offensive. Furthermore,
if used by a casual acquaintance, it may be taken as a sign of aggression;
Klingons are generally apprehensive about those showing too much
friendship. A Klingon female would address someone as {maqoch} only if she
intended to insult him or her. A Klingon male with any honor at all would
never address a female as {maqoch}. The word {maqoch} itself may derive
from {may' qoch} (literally, "battle partner"), so perhaps it originally
meant something like "war buddy".
There is a word that Klingon females use in a pattern paralleling the
males' use of {maqoch}. This word is {chaj, a close female friend of a
female. As with {maqoch}, it is used only in addressing a true friend. If
uttered by a female adversary, it is insulting; if uttered by a casual
acquaintance it is presumptuous. A male Klingon would address a female
Klingon as {chaj} only to offend her. If a male were to be addressed as
{chaj}, by either a male or a female, he would consider his honor to be
attacked and would react accordingly. It is not uncommon for a Klingon
father to address his son as {maqoch} or for a Klingon mother to address
her daughter as {chaj}. The reverse, however, is not true. That is, a son
would never call his father {maqoch}, nor would a daughter address her
mother as {chaj}. Because of the dangers inherent in using {maqoch} and
{chaj} inappropriately, it is suggested that visitors be quite sure of the
status of their relationships with individual Klingons before uttering or
reacting to either of these words.
Related nouns:
{jup} "friend", {jupna'} "true friend", {qoch} "partner"
--
Voragh
Ca'Non Master of the Klingons