tlhIngan-Hol Archive: Wed Feb 03 09:18:11 2010
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RE: Honoured
So, this brings us into the nuances of Klingon politeness. What I
really had in mind when I wrote was something along the lines of:
"You experienced Klingon veteran has made an effort to help us newbies
improve our Klingon, in which case the honorable thing to do is for us
to make the effort to complete the assignment."
So my emphasis was on the very good thing that Quvar did, rather than
on Quvar's high personal honor (which I do not doubt). From the
examples it seems that {-neS} is more coupled to the social status of
the person you interact with, than the act they did. So it seems that
{QInlIj vIHevmo' jIquv} is the best expression. On the other hand,
maybe that is insufficiently polite and {QInlIj vIHevneS} is more
appropriate.
Finally, I seems to me that {batlh QInlIj vIHev} would be even less
polite; I could say that if I was Quvar's equal, for instance.
Are my musings correct?
/buSwI'
Quoting Steven Boozer <[email protected]>:
> buSwI':
>>> > QInlIj vIHev 'e' vIquv!
>>> > (I am honored to receive your message)
> Fiat Knox:
>> This just cries out for an honorific Type 8 suffix:-
>>
>> QInlIj vIHevneS - I am honored to receive your message!
>
> Quite right. There's also another reason: {quv} "be honored" is a
> quality and so cannot take an object.
>
>> This would be used in the case where a respected superior assigns a
>> subordinate courier duty. -neS just seems more appropriate here.
>
> TKD 43: [{-neS}] is used to express extreme politeness or
> deference. It is used only in addressing a superior, someone of
> higher rank in the Klingon social, political, or military hierarchy.
> It is never required. [...] This suffix is used rather infrequently
> by Klingons.
>
> KGT 38f.: Though there is no situation in which the use of {-neS}
> is required and its use is rather infrequent, when it is used, it is
> used only when addressing someone of higher rank, such as a higher
> officer in the military or a high political leader. It would not be
> used by a higher-ranking officer, for example, when speaking to a
> lower-ranking officer, nor would it be used when talking about a
> higher-ranking person. [...] While it would be entirely
> inappropriate for a superior to say to an inferior {choQaHpu'neS}
> ("You, honored one, have helped me"), the superior may say {batlh
> choQaHpu'} ("You have helped me in an honored way" or "You have
> helped me with honor"). The relative ranking of individuals may be
> ascertained by noting who says {-neS} to whom.
>
> KGT 192: Furthermore, since {-neS} is used only in addressing a
> superior, saying {-neS} rather than {-nIS} may be bestowing honor
> inappropriately.
>
>
> qaleghneS
> I am honored to see you. TKD
>
> HIja'neS
> do me the honor of telling me TKD
>
> choQaHpu'neS
> You, honored one, have helped me. KGT
>
> po'neS baHwI'pu'lI'
> Your gunners are skilled, your Honor. PK
>
> DojneS mIplIj
> Your wealth is impressive, your Honor. PK
>
> cha'puj vIngevmeH chaw' HInobneS
> Give me a permit to sell dilithium, your honor. PK
>
> QaghwIj vIQIj 'e' yIchaw'neS
> Permit me to explain my mistake, your Honor. PK
>
> However if you really want to grovel, you can use {quv} and {-neS} together:
>
> naDev juHlIjDaq cha'logh jISopneSchugh vaj jIquv
> It would be an honor to eat twice here at your house, your Honor. PK
>
>
> --
> Voragh
> Canon Master of the Klingons
>
>
>
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