tlhIngan-Hol Archive: Fri May 04 07:29:46 2007
[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next]
Re: Klingon WOTD: Quj (noun)
>This is the Klingon Word Of The Day for Friday, May 4, 2007.
>
>Klingon word: Quj
>Part of Speech: noun
>Definition: game
Never used in canon.
Cultural notes:
playing a game just for fun is an outlandish notion. (TKW 191)
"To win" a competition is {Qap}. (If it's a decisive or particularly
gratifying victory, they'd say {Qapchu'}, even though that's a bit
redundant... To a Klingon, to win is to function perfectly. The
opposite notion, "lose", is commonly {luj}, also meaning "fail". (HQ 2.4)
Note that {luj} is also used to mean "lose" (as in "lose at a game").
To say "I lose" is {jIluj}; to say "I lose in a big way" is {jIlujqu'}
or {jIlujchu'}. The slang term {vonlu'} ["fail utterly "] is not used
in reference to games." (KGT 165-66)
Glen Proechel used *{DeQ qIpchu'} for "score a point", but officially
{pe''egh} is to "keep score" (lit. "cut oneself"): "It comes from an old
Klingon habit of keeping track of accomplishments by making small cuts on
one's skin, usually on the face, as a tally." (TKW 135)
AFAIK there are only two "authentic" Klingon games known: {qa'vaQ}
(involves throwing a {ghIntaq} spear through a rolling half-meter hoop
{gho} which hones the skills of the hunt [seen in TNG "Birthright II"]) and
{qeylIS mInDu'} Eyes of Kahless (a guessing game with dice where the winner
receives a punch [seen in KCD]).
Several games are known from Klingon fandom: *{DIjchu'} (KLI),
*{mu'reHwI'} (KLI), *{nuq 'oH} (KLI), *{pachmu'} (ILS), *{pegh mu'} (KLI),
*{poQ'ar} (KLI), *{qaDHom cha'} (KLI), *{'Iv jIH} (KLI); *{DIS Qujmey} the
"Year Games" (ILS); *{Huchmay' Quj} Monopoly (source?); *{vutlu'meH Quj}
recipe contest (ILS); *{wa' cha' wa'maH} (Joel Anderson)
>Homonyms:
> Quj (verb) - play a game
Used in canon:
DaH ghew yIQuj
Cricket, please. (RT)
There is an odd phrase {chut Quj} "play by the rules (of the law)" (?) from
the KCD novel p.23f:
Then speaking to Pok, but looking directly into Vok's face, [K'Tar]
said, "Throw this {veQ} out."
Pok stood and moved toward Vok, reaching for the unwanted guest.
"{bIyem'a'}!" Vok said. Pok stopped short of grabbing Vok...
"The celebration," Vok said, "was declared a *lop'no*. You have invited
the spirits of all our Klingon ancestors. Tradition dictates that all are
welcome to the *lop 'no*. Even ancient rivals. Even me, K'Tar."
"{Chut Quj}," K'Tar said.
"{Luq ratlh}," Pok said, almost spitting his words at Vok.
Someone (I don't remember who) suggested that K'Tar really said {chut QIj},
"He explained the law." The author sometimes changed I's to u or added
extraneous u's in other places; for example, *Quapla'* instead of *Qapla'*.
Related verbs:
{qaD} challenge; {'ov} compete
Don't confuse {Quj} "play a game" with {chu'} "play (a musical instrument)"
or {reH} "play (in general?; e.g. "your children playing at your feet" from
ST3))
--
Voragh
Ca'Non Master of the Klingons