Add Your Heading Text Here

  1. Introduction

    1. Overview

This document describes the certification guidelines for the Klingon Language Certification Program (KLCP). The guidelines describe the certification levels awarded by the KLI upon successful completion of certification exams, the language skills that are tested for each certification level, and also will contain sample questions and answers for each level's exam. This document is to be used both as a guide for developing the certification Test Bank, and as a guide to the student who wishes to prepare for the certification exams.

These are testing materials, not educational materials. While this document describes guidelines for the language skills addressed by each level of certification, it does not attempt to teach the student about those language skills.

Back to the top.

    1. Question Format

The questions will either be translation, fill-in-the-blank, or require answers to questions about grammar. An example of each type is provided here.

Translation1a.Translate the following sentence:
  SuS'a'mo' pum Sorvetlh
  ["That tree fell because of the powerful wind."]
 1b.Translate the following sentence:
  "The guard chased the prisoner out of the jail."
  [bIghHa'vo' qama' tlha' 'avwI']
Fill-in-the-blank2a.Don't speak!
  yIjatlh___
  [-Qo']
 2b.ya ghaH wo'rIv'e'
  Worf is the __________.
  ["tactical officer"]
Grammar3a.What is the connotation of using -mey with a noun capable of language?
  [scattered all about]
 3b.What is the connotation of using a general possessive suffix on a noun capable of language?
  [insult]

In the po'wI' "advanced" tests, there will also be questions on reading comprehension. The test will include a short story, followed by 5 questions about the events described in the story.

In the pab pIn "grammarian" test, the questions take on a different form. The test taker is asked to judge the grammaticality of sentences, and explain any problems in the grammar. The test for this level also includes essay questions.

Back to the top.

  1. Level I: Hol patlh taghwI', "Beginner"

     

    1. Source

The beginner's test will consist of 20 questions from the following material. The grammar and vocabulary will come exclusively from TKD, and no other sources. For the vocabulary, there is a list of 500 common words from TKD, which all beginners should learn, and the questions in this section of the test will use vocabulary only from this list. See the appendix at the end of these guidelines for the beginner's vocabulary.

Back to the top.

    1. Material

Topic

Source

Syllable stressTKD 1.3, p. 17
Parts of speechTKD 2, p. 18
NS1 –'a' augmentativeTKD 3.3.1, p. 21
NS1 –Hom diminutiveTKD 3.3.1, p. 21
NS3 –qoq so-calledTKD 3.3.3, p. 24
NS3 –Hey apparentTKD 3.3.3, p. 24
NS3 –na' definiteTKD 3.3.3, p. 25
NS4 –wIj myTKD 3.3.4, p. 25
NS4 –wI' myTKD 3.3.4, p. 25
NS4 –lIj yourTKD 3.3.4, p. 25
NS4 –lI' yourTKD 3.3.4, p. 25
NS4 –maj ourTKD 3.3.4, p. 25
NS4 –ma' ourTKD 3.3.4, p. 25
NS4 –Daj his/her/its/theirTKD 3.3.4, p. 25
NS4 –vam thisTKD 3.3.4, p. 26
NS4 –vetlh thatTKD 3.3.4, p. 26
NS5 –Daq locativeTKD 3.3.5, p. 27-28
NS5 –vo' fromTKD 3.3.5, p. 28
NS5 –mo' due to, because ofTKD 3.3.5, p. 28
NS5 –'e' topicTKD 3.3.5, p. 29
Verb prefix jI-TKD 4.1.1, p. 32-34
Verb prefix bI-TKD 4.1.1, p. 32-34
Verb prefix ma-TKD 4.1.1, p. 32-34
Verb prefix qa-TKD 4.1.1, p. 32-34
Verb prefix vI-TKD 4.1.1, p. 32-34
Verb prefix cho-TKD 4.1.1, p. 32-34
Verb prefix mu-TKD 4.1.1, p. 32-34
Verb prefix Da-TKD 4.1.1, p. 32-34
Verb prefix (null)TKD 4.1.1, p. 32-34
VS1 –'egh selfTKD 4.2.1, p. 35
VS1 –chuq each otherTKD 4.2.1, p. 36
VS2 –nIS needTKD 4.2.2, p. 36
VS2 –rup readyTKD 4.2.2, p. 36
VS2 –qang willingTKD 4.2.2, p. 36
VS2 –beH readyTKD 4.2.2, p. 36-37
VS2 –vIp afraidTKD 4.2.2, p. 37
VS3 –choH changeTKD 4.2.3, p. 37
VS3 –qa' again/resumeTKD 4.2.3, p. 37-38
VS4 –moH causeTKD 4.2.4, p. 38
VS5 –laH abilityTKD 4.2.5, p. 39
VS6 –ba' obviouslyTKD 4.2.6, p. 175 (addendum)
VS6 –law' apparentlyTKD 4.2.6, p. 40
VS6 –bej certainlyTKD 4.2.6, p. 40
VS6 –chu' clearly/perfectlyTKD 4.2.6, p. 40
VS8 –neS honorificTKD 4.2.8, p. 43
VS9 –'a' interrogativeTKD 4.2.9, p. 44
Rover –be' negationTKD 4.3, p. 46
Rover –qu' emphaticTKD 4.3, p. 48-49
PronounsTKD 5.1, p. 51-52
ConjunctionsTKD 5.3, p. 55
ExclamationsTKD 5.5, p. 57
Question chay' howTKD 6.4, p. 68-70
Question ghorgh whenTKD 6.4, p. 68-70
Question 'ar how manyTKD 6.4, p. 68-70
Question qatlh whyTKD 6.4, p. 68-70
    1. Sample Questions
1.InstructionsFill in the blank.
 QuestionHow many enemies do you see?
  jagh _____ Dalegh
 Answer'ar
2.InstructionsTranslate the following sentence:
 QuestionThis door is shut.
 AnswerSoQ lojmItvam
3.Instructions 
 QuestionIdentify the parts of speech in Klingon.
 AnswerNouns, verbs, and everything else.

Back to the top.

  1. Level II: Hol patlh ghojwI', "Intermediate"

     

    1. Source

The Intermediate test will consist of 20 questions drawn from the following material. The grammar and vocabulary will come exclusively from TKD, and no other sources. In this section, questions will use any grammar and vocabulary found in TKD (2nd printing).

Back to the top.

    1. Material

Topic

Source

Compound nounsTKD 3.2.1, p. 19
VS9 –wI' thing/one which is/doesTKD 3.2.2, p. 19,
TKD 4.2.9, p. 44
NS2 –Du' body part pluralTKD 3.3.2, p. 23
NS2 –mey general pluralTKD 3.3.2, p. 23
NS2 –pu' language-user pluralTKD 3.3.2, p. 23
Inherent pluralsTKD 3.3.2, p. 23-24
NS5 –vaD beneficiaryTKD 3.3.5, p. 28,
TKD 6.8 p. 180 (addendum)
N1-N2 genitivesTKD 3.4, p. 30
Verb prefix boTKD 4.1.1, p. 32-34
Verb prefix cheTKD 4.1.1, p. 32-34
Verb prefix DITKD 4.1.1, p. 32-34
Verb prefix DuTKD 4.1.1, p. 32-34
Verb prefix juTKD 4.1.1, p. 32-34
Verb prefix lI-TKD 4.1.1, p. 32-34
Verb prefix luTKD 4.1.1, p. 32-34
Verb prefix nITKD 4.1.1, p. 32-34
Verb prefix nuTKD 4.1.1, p. 32-34
Verb prefix pITKD 4.1.1, p. 32-34
Verb prefix reTKD 4.1.1, p. 32-34
Verb prefix SaTKD 4.1.1, p. 32-34
Verb prefix SuTKD 4.1.1, p. 32-34
Verb prefix tuTKD 4.1.1, p. 32-34
Verb prefix wITKD 4.1.1, p. 32-34
Imperative verb prefix ghoTKD 4.1.2, p. 34-35
Imperative verb prefix HITKD 4.1.2, p. 34-35
Imperative verb prefix pe-TKD 4.1.2, p. 34-35
Imperative verb prefix tITKD 4.1.2, p. 34-35
Imperative verb prefix yITKD 4.1.2, p. 34-35
VS5 –lu' indefinite subjectTKD 4.2.5, p. 38-39
VS7 –ta' accomplishedTKD 4.2.7, p. 41-42
VS7 –taH continuousTKD 4.2.7, p. 42
VS7 –lI' in progressTKD 4.2.7, p. 42-43
VS7 –pu' perfectiveTKD 4.2.7, p.41
VS9 –mo' due to/becauseTKD 4.2.9, p. 175 (addendum)
VS9 –jaj mayTKD 4.2.9, p. 175-176 (addendum)
VS9 –ghach nominalizerTKD 4.2.9, p. 176 (addendum)
VS9 –chugh ifTKD 4.2.9, p. 43
VS9 –DI' as soon as/whenTKD 4.2.9, p. 43
VS9 –pa' beforeTKD 4.2.9, p. 43
VS9 –vIS whileTKD 4.2.9, p. 43-44
VS9 –bogh relative clauseTKD 4.2.9, p. 44,
TKD 6.2.3, p. 63-64
VS9 –meH purpose clauseTKD 4.2.9, p. 44,
TKD 6.2.4, p. 64-65
Rover –Qo' won'tTKD 4.3, p. 47
Rover –Ha' undoTKD 4.3, p. 47-48
AdjectivesTKD 4.4, p. 49-50
NumbersTKD 5.2, p. 52-55
AdverbsTKD 5.4, p. 55-57, 177-178 (addendum)
Sentences as objectTKD 6.2.5, p. 65-67
Pronouns as "to be"TKD 6.3, p. 67-68

Back to the top.

    1. Sample Questions
 1. Instructions Fill in the blank.
  Question May you die before your children do.
   Heghpa' puqpu'lI' __________.
  Answer bIHeghjaj
 2. Instructions Translate the following sentence.
  Question De' lI'bogh boleghpu"a'?
  Answer Have you (plural) seen the information that he transmitted?
 3. Instructions Identify the subject and object indicated by the following prefix
  Question tu-
  Answer Subject: you (plural)
   Object: me

Back to the top.

   4.   Level III: Hol patlh po'wI', "Advanced"

    1. Source

The Advanced test will consist of 30 questions drawn from the all canon sources, which includes the following sources:

          • The Klingon Dictionary (paperback from Pocket Books
          • Conversational Klingon (audio cassette from Pocket Books)
          • Power Klingon (audio cassette from Pocket Books)
          • The Klingon Way (paperback from Pocket Books)
          • Klingon for the Galactic Traveler (paperback from Pocket Books)
          • Klingon Language Lab (in the Star Trek: Klingon video game) (CD-ROM from Simon & Schuster Interactive)
          • HolQeD (selected material) From time to time, Okrand will use HolQeD to present new words, clarify spellings, and illucidate grammatical points. In addition, words associated with other works which Okrand is responsible for, such as vocabulary from the Language Lab portion of Star Trek: Klingon, and the Star Trek Movies, were published in HolQeD.
          • Skybox Trading Cards [Some cards have text in English and tlhIngan Hol, written by Okrand.]
          • …and other random tidbits, such as the Star Trek: 30th Anniversary Commemorative issue of the British magazine, The Radio Times; and anything verifiably from Okrand, such as personal quotes from qep'a'mey.

 

Back to the top.

    1. Material

The Advanced test will consist of 30 questions: 20 main questions, 5 idioms, and 5 in reading comprehension.

The 20 main questions are presented in the same format as the previous two tests. Each specific issue will not be listed here; instead, examples for each category will be shown.

      1. Main Questions

Grammar and language use post-TKD

Example: nargh 'eb "too late"
Example: NS5 –'e' "topic" used to disambiguate the head noun of a relative clause.

Little-known grammar rules

Example: It is culturally taboo to use the VS2 suffix vIp with a first-person subject prefix.

Regional variation in grammar

Example: In toasts, the last word is always the verb, except in Sakrej and No'hvadut dialects.

Societal variation in vocabulary

Example: Dargh HIvje' "teacup" (general) vs. tu'lum "teacup" (upper-class only)

Specialized vocabulary

Example: ghe'naQ nIt "Grand Opera"

      1. Idioms

For the questions on idioms, you will be asked to provide the idiomatic interpretation of an expression. For example, pe'vIl bI'chu', "do something all at once."

      1. Reading Comprehension

In the reading comprehension section, you will have a short passage to read in Klingon. The text will be followed by five questions on the subject matter. The questions are written in Klingon, and you will provide your answers in Klingon.

Back to the top.

    1. Sample Questions
1.InstructionsTranslate the following sentence.
 QuestionIt's too late for you to spit out the poison.
 Answernargh tar DatlhISmeH 'eb
2.Instructions 
 QuestionExplain the difference between yaS and 'utlh.
 AnsweryaS "officer" vs. 'utlh "officer" (emeritus)
3.InstructionsExplain the idiomatic interpretation of the following expression.
 Questionpe'vIl bI'chu'
 AnswerDo something all at once

Back to the top.

    5.    Grammarian

The grammarian test is a little different than the others. The test is in two parts. The first part of test will consist of a collection of sentences, some grammatical, most not. The grammarian will have to provide an explanation of the grammatical details of the sentence, including an explanation for why the sentence may be ungrammatical. There will be 10 questions of this type. The material will cover all known canon sources for Klingon grammar, including issues that may still not be clearly understood.

The second part of the test will be an essay, a written response to an essay question.

Back to the top.

    6.    Appendix: Beginner's Vocabulary

The following 500 vocabulary items are from TKD. All questions in the Level I: Beginner's exam use vocabulary only from this list. Due to copyright restrictions, only the English translation is included here; please refer to TKD for the Klingon translation.

ability, (n)
accept, (v)
accompany, (v)
accomplish, (v)
accomplishment, (n)
ache, hurt, be sore, (v)
achieve, (v)
achievement, (n)
acquire, obtain, get, (v)
act, take action, (v)
add, (v)
additional one, other one, (n)
admit, (v)
advice, (n)
advise, (v)
afternoon, (n)
alien, foreigner, (n)
allow, permit, (v)
alter, change, (v)
analyze, (v)
animal, (n)
answer, reply, (v)
approach, go away from, proceed, come, follow (a course), (v)
area above, area overhead, (n)
area below, area under, (n)
area beside, area next to, (n)
area between, (n)
arm, (n)
arrive, (v)
ask, (v)
attack, (v)
attempt, try, (v)
bar, saloon, cocktail lounge, (n)
battle, (n)
be a problem, be a hassle, (v)
be absent, (v)
be accomplished, finished, (v)
be advanced, highly developed, (v)
be all gone, (v)
be alone, (v)
be angry, mad, (v)
be bad, (v)
be beautiful, handsome, (v)
be big, (v)
be black, (v)
be boring, (v)
be brave, (v)
be calm, (v)
be careful, (v)
be clean, (v)
be clever, smart, intelligent, (v)
be closed, shut, (v)
be clumsy, (v)
be cold, (v)
be confused, mixed up, (v)
be counterfeit, false, fake, (v)
be crazy, (v)
be dangerous, (v)
be depressed, (v)
be different, (v)
be difficult, (v)
be dirty, (v)
be dishonest, (v)
be drunk, intoxicated, (v)
be dry, (v)
be dull, uninteresting, (v)
be easy, (v)
be enough, sufficient, (v)
be essential, necessary, (v)
be excited, (v)
be expert, skilled, (v)
be famous, well known, (v)
be fat, (v)
be fat, (v)
be few, be several, be a handful, (v)
be final, last, (v)
be fortunate, lucky, (v)
be free, independent, (v)
be frozen, (v)
be funny, (v)
be good, (v)
be green, blue, yellow, (v)
be grouchy, mean, (v)
be happy, (v)
be hard (like a rock), (v)
be healthy, (v)
be heavy, (v)
be honored, (v)
be hot, (v)
be hungry, (v)
be identical, (v)
be impressive, (v)
be inferior, (v)
be interesting, (v)
be lazy, (v)
be light, bright, (v)
be many, (v)
be messy, sloppy, (v)
be nervous, uneasy, (v)
be new, (v)
be old (not new), (v)
be old (not young), (v)
be open, opened, (v)
be orange, red, (v)
be pleased, (v)
be present (not absent), (v)
be proud, (v)
be qualified, (v)
be quiet, (v)
be remote, far, (v)
be responsible, (v)
be right, correct, (v)
be rough, (v)
be sad, (v)
be satisfied, (v)
be serious, (v)
be sharp, (v)
be sick, ill, (v)
be simple, (v)
be small, (v)
be smooth, (v)
be sour, (v)
be special, exceptional, (v)
be strong, (v)
be stupid, (v)
be temporary, (v)
be the same, (v)
be thirsty, (v)
be tired, (v)
be together, (v)
be tough, (v)
be trivial, trifling, unimportant, (v)
be true, (v)
be useful, (v)
be varied, various, (v)
be weak, (v)
be weird, (v)
be wet, (v)
be white, (v)
be wrong, (v)
beam (aboard), (v)
become, (v)
believe, (v)
bend, (v)
betray, (v)
birthday, (n)
bite, (v)
blame, (v)
blood, (n)
board, go aboard, (v)
body, (n)
book, (n)
boot, (n)
borrow, (v)
boss, (n)
boy, (n)
break, (v)
breakfast, (n)
breathe, (v)
bring, (v)
brother, (n)
building, structure, (n)
burn, (v)
buy, purchase, (v)
calculate, (v)
calendar, (n)
captain, (n)
care (about), (v)
carry, convey, (v)
cause trouble, (v)
chair, (n)
charming (used only ironically), (excl)
chase, follow, (v)
cheat, (v)
cheek, (n)
chew, (v)
child, offspring, (n)
chocolate, (n)
choose, select, (v)
chronometer, (n)
city, (n)
climb, (v)
close in, get closer, come nearer, (v)
cloud, (n)
communicate, (v)
compete, (v)
computer, (n)
concentrate on, focus on, think only about, (v)
connect, (v)
conquer, (v)
contain (have inside), (v)
control, (v)
cook, (v)
country, countryside, (n)
coward, (n)
cry, (v)
danger, (n)
data, information, (n)
daughter, (n)
day, (n)
debate, (v)
decide, (v)
demand, require, (v)
deny, (v)
depart, (v)
depend on, rely on, (v)
describe, (v)
destroy, (v)
dictionary, (n)
die, (v)
dinner, (n)
disagree, (v)
disappear, vanish, (v)
discourage, (v)
discover, find, observe, notice, (v)
dislike, (v)
dock, (n)
dock, (v)
doctor, physician, (n)
done, (excl)
door, gate, (n)
doubt, (v)
dream, (v)
drink, (v)
drop, (v)
duty station, station, (n)
duty, quest, mission, task, chore, (n)
Earth, (n)
eat, (v)
enemy, (n)
enjoy, (v)
enter, go in, (v)
err, be mistaken, make a mistake, (v)
establish, set up, (v)
everyone, all, everything, (n)
expect, (v)
explain, (v)
face, (n)
fact, (n)
fall, (v)
family, (n)
father, (n)
feed (someone else), (v)
female, woman, (n)
fight, (v)
fill, (v)
finger, (n)
fire, (n)
fire (torpedo, rocket, missile), (v)
fix, repair, (v)
floor, (n)
follow (rules), (v)
food, (n)
fool, (n)
foot, (n)
forehead, (n)
forest, woods, (n)
forget, (v)
friend, (n)
garbage, (n)
gas, (n)
genius, (n)
gift, (n)
girl, (n)
give, (v)
glass (tumbler, mug, cup), (n)
glow, (v)
go, (v)
goal, (n)
good (expressing satisfaction), (excl)
grammar, (n)
grandfather, (n)
group, party, (n)
guard, (v)
gunner, (n)
hand, (n)
hate, detest, (v)
have a hangover, be hung over, (v)
have a headache, (v)
have, possess, (v)
he, she, him, her, (pro)
head, (n)
hear, (v)
helm, (n)
helmsman, (n)
help, aid, (v)
hide, cloak, (v)
history, (n)
home, (n)
honor, (n)
hope, (v)
hour, (n)
hunt, (v)
hurry, (v)
husband, (n)
I, me, (pro)
idea, (n)
identify, (v)
inhabitant, (n)
insult, (v)
intend, mean to, (v)
it, (pro)
jacket, coat, (n)
judge, estimate, (v)
keep something secret, (v)
keep, save, (v)
kill, (v)
Klingon, (n) (people)
knee, (n)
knife, dagger, (n)
know, (v)
label, (v)
lake, (n)
language, (n)
laugh, (v)
lead, guide, (v)
learn, (v)
leave, depart, (v)
leg, (n)
let's go, come on, (excl)
lie, fib, (v)
life, (n)
line, rope, (n)
listen, (v)
live, (v)
look for, seek, search for, (v)
loved one, one who is loved+9+ (n)
make peace, (v)
male, man, (n)
manuscript, (n)
meet (for the first time), (v)
meet, encounter, (v)
meeting, (n)
melt, (v)
mind, brain, (n)
minute (of time), (n)
month, (n)
moon, (n)
morning, (n)
mother, (n)
mouth, (n)
name, (n)
navigate, (v)
night, (n)
no, (excl)
no, I won't, I refuse, I disagree, (excl)
nonsense, (n)
nose, (n)
nostril, (n)
nothing, none, (n)
noun, (n)
oath, (n)
occur, happen, (v)
officer, (n)
opinion, (n)
opportunity, (n)
order, command, (v)
paper, (n)
pay attention, concentrate, (v)
pay for, (v)
peace, (n)
period of time, (n)
person (humanoid), (n) (ghot, nuv)
pet, (n)
phenomenon, event, occurrence, (n)
plan, (v)
planet, (n)
pleasure, (n)
practice, train, prepare, (v)
prefer, (v)
present, (v)
press down, (v)
prevent, block, prohibit, (v)
prisoner, (n)
prosper, be prosperous, (v)
protect, (v)
push, (v)
question, interrogate, (v)
rain, (v)
reach, (v)
read, (v)
ready, (excl)
realize, (v)
reason, (n)
receive, (v)
recognize, (v)
recommend, suggest, (v)
regret, (v)
remain, (v)
remember, (v)
remove, take off, (v)
resemble, (v)
respect, (v)
rest, relax, (v)
restaurant, (n)
return, (v)
revenge, (n)
roam, travel, rove, (v)
room, (n)
run, jog, (v)
salute, (v)
scare, (v)
science, (n)
scientist, (n)
scream, cry out, shout, yell, (v)
secret, (n)
see, (v)
sell, (v)
send, (v)
sentence, (n)
sergeant, (n)
serve (a master), (v)
shield, (n)
ship, vessel, (n)
shoe, (n)
shoot, (v)
shot, (n)
show, reveal, (v)
sir, (n)
sister, (n)
sit, (v)
skin, (n)
sky, (n)
sleep, (v)
slit, (v)
so, well, (excl)
soft, (v)
somebody, something, anybody, anything, (n)
somewhere, (n)
son, (n)
source, (n)
speak, say, (v)
stand, (v)
stop, cease, (v)
story, (n)
study, (v)
stuff, (v)
success, (n)
surprise, (v)
surrender, give up, (v)
sword, (n)
system, (n)
take, (v)
take away, (v)
tell the truth, (v)
tell, report, (v)
theory, (n)
there, over there, thereabouts, (n)
they, them, (pro) (language user)
they, them, (pro) (non-language user)
thing, (n)
think, (v)
throw away, (v)
today, (n)
tomorrow, (n)
translate, (v)
tree, (n)
tribble, (n)
trouble, (n)
trust, have faith in, (v)
turn, (v)
understand, (v)
use, (v)
verb, (n)
verify, (v)
victory, triumph, (n)
violate, (v)
violation, (n)
visit, (v)
vocabulary, (n)
voice, (n)
vow, swear, (v)
Vulcan, (n) (people)
wait (for), (v)
wake up, cease sleeping, (v)
walk, (v)
want, (v)
war, (n)
warrior, (n)
watch, (v)
water, (n)
we, us, (pro)
weapon, (n)
wear (clothes), (v)
week, (n)
well done, very good, (excl)
wife, (n)
wind, breeze, (n)
wing, (n)
wonder, (v)
word, (n)
work, function, succeed, (v)
work, toil, (v)
wound, (v)
write, (v)
year, (n)
yes, true, (excl)
yesterday, (n)
you, (pro)
you (plural), (pro)

Copyright (c) 2002, Klingon Language Institute and d'Armond Speers
All Rights Reserved
Last modified: Sunday, February 10, 2002