Word: Diamond

Category:

Description/Reason:

The form of the diamond cubic atomic structure of carbon we use for jewellery and such. Wouldn't mind also knowing the nomenclature for the general crystalline structure as well, if different, which it probably is.


Comment below with feedback and suggestions.

Responses

  1. I was more interested in a name for the substance, as such. Although Klingons may regard it as a jewel, I was hoping Okrand could give us a word for the substance that we could use in any context, i.e. Industry, materials science, jewellry, etc. Also, the term for the atomic lattice structure would be nice, whether for carbon or not. Mainly, though, I was hoping for a word for the former.

    1. I see no reason why ghav (watlh) naghboch couldn't be used in a context of materials science since the expression would be easily understood by a speaker.

      With regard to the crystal structure, this could be expressed as ghav watlh naghboch qut Qur pure carbon jewel crystal structure.

      A word for lattice might be interesting, but then again this could just be a wej roDSer tlhat three-dimension(al) grid.

        1. cha'maH reD yergh ghav SIr'o' icosahedral carbon lattice would work, I think. I'd use cha'maH reD yergh ghav SIr'o' moQ icosahedral carbon lattice sphere for buckminsterfullerine.

          1. I probably should have said cha'maH reD moQ ghav SIr'o' icosahedral carbon lattice for buckminsterfullerine.

          2. I probably should have said cha'maH reD moQ ghav SIr'o' icosahedral carbon lattice sphere for buckminsterfullerine.

          3. I've made a mess, here. One last revision: cha'maH reD yergh ghav SIr'o' for fullerines, cha'maH reD moQ ghav SIr'o' for buckminsterfullerines/buckyballs. Fek'lhr has been needlessly cruel to me today.

  2. These are all great.; I like them. I guess my assumption here is that it's unlikely that Klingons originally knew any more than we did that diamonds are composed of carbon upon their discovery and naming of them. So I think we should expect there would be a specific name for the substance rather than a descriptor that references carbon.

    1. The desire for realism should not be discounted; however it is also true that technically speaking this is a concept we can already express with reasonable accuracy, since diamonds are quite literally made of only one thing. Personally I find it more 'charming' when Klingon expresses a concept differently or counterintuitively than it is expressed in English. And since Klingons were retroactively exposed to high technology via the Hur'q invasion, perhaps they learned about graphite and diamonds simultaneously!

      The only thing we really know about the geology of Kronos is that there are lots of volcanoes, which would suggest a need for igneous geological terms (basaltgranite et al.) with more complex chemical composition.

      1. I fully agree with your point on expressing an idea differently when it comes to grammer and idiom. However, basic terms for substances which were around before their natures were understood should have names that don't reflect advanced knowledge of their subtler properties. The odds are that on a tectonically active planet with plenty of carbon, diamonds were readily available. The Hur'q might have supplied knowledge of their nature, but not before an indigenous name had been coined. I agree as well that we can describe these things with the language as it stands and your suggestions are great — I can't think of any better ones — and I'll use them as they stand if no word for diamond is revealed. Even if one is revealed I think it will go great with naghboch qut Qur. You're also right about the realism factor: It is  important to me, but I'll subordinate it to practicality if need be. I still think a general term for a Bravais lattice would be neat, though.

  3. In my WoT there is:

    It only takes a gram or so of weight to wear out a piece of diamond.   I must be harder than diamond.

    So, I wouldn't mind a specific word.

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