tlhIngan-Hol Archive: Wed Oct 27 16:12:01 2010
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RE: A request for assistance
Aye, it's going to be tough to construct something in Klingon that translates both the literal and figurative meaning of that phrase (even if one doesn't take into account the fact that Klingons probably prefer women WITH thorns; nothing hotter than getting hit in the face by a flying vase while you're reciting love poetry).
Roses are Earth flowers, so there might not be a flower in the Klingon Empire similar enough that it can be called a rose. In that case, Klingon xenobotanists probably refer to roses as something like roSmey (although because the sibgular roS means "lick", that might be a bad idea) or rowISmey (from Federation Standard) or ro'Sa'mey (from their scientific name) or something like that.
I suppose "beautiful flower" might do the trick, but sadly, we don't have a word for flower, either... ...and I refuse to refer to flowers as "diminutive trees" or "beautiful vegetables"!
Anyhow, there isn't a word for "thorn", either... ...or "needle". There are swords... ...but that might be overdoing it a bit, and besides, it sounds like too much of insult in Klingon.
roweS Hab means "smooth rose", but referring to women as "smooth" seems a bit risky, what with the classic insult Hab SoSlI' Quch.
...and I also don't think we should describe her as unridged.
roweS pup might work (it means "perfect rose").
That's the best I can come up with, right now.
//Felix
________________________________________
From: [email protected] [[email protected]] on behalf of lojmIt tI'wI' nuv [[email protected]]
Sent: Wednesday, October 27, 2010 23:34
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: A request for assistance
Might as well try to translate a maintenance manual for a Boeing 747 into Aramaic...
pItlh.
lojmIt tI'wI' nuv
On Oct 27, 2010, at 3:14 PM, Krenath wrote:
> I received this email directly just now. While I hunt down whatever assistance I can give, I thought I'd forward it on to the list and see if I can get the ball rolling.
>
> Begin forwarded message:
>
>> From: Kate Oscarson <[email protected]>
>> Date: October 27, 2010 2:57:11 PM EDT
>> To: [email protected]
>> Subject: A request for assistance
>>
>
>>
>>
>> Hello,
>>
>> I am writing to you today in hopes of assistance in a Klingon translation project. I retrieved your email address off of the Klingon Language Institute Discussion Board, and am hopeful that you might be able to help me, or at least point me in the right direction. I have already had emails bounce back as "undeliverable" for all administrator addresses at the KLI website. I am hoping to translate "Without Thorn the Rose" (Milton, Paradise Lost). I have done the research and checked many resources, however I am unable to find the words "rose" and "thorn" defined either at the KLI or at other Klingon translation websites. Would you be able to assist?
>>
>> To add a personal note, in the hopes that it may help my cause, I am in the process of having a large rose-vine tattooed across my back as a way of paying respect to my family's honor (I am the 13th rose in a family of strong, proud, honorable women.) I would like to add this phrase to my tattoo. I think that the Klingon Gods would have approved, had they not all been slain by their creations.
>>
>> Thank you for your time,
>>
>> Katherine Rose Oscarson
>>
>>
>>
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>