Hi!
I was wondering if someone could provide me the original Klingon for the phrase “work the problem”. Imperative form is probably appropriate, but I am a very unskilled linguist, so I’m not sure that’s correct. The greater context is to ignore everything else and to solely focus on finding a solution for the current problem.
regards,
dave
{qay’} is a verb meaning “to be a problem”, so it can’t be the object of {Qap} “to work, function, succeed”.
*smacks forehead* Of course, thanks for pointing that out.
Perhaps ghu’ (situation), then?
ghu’ yIQap
{Qap} is “work” as in “The machine is working” or “This tap does not work properly”, not the act of doing some kind of labor, that’s {vum}, maybe {yIvumtaH ‘ej SIbIHa’ bIQap} “Continue to work and eventually you will succeed”. I still prefer {not yIjegh} though 🙂
I would use:
not yIjegh! Never surrender
The two idioms seem to be similar in meaning, with “Work the problem” meaning “keep trying until you succeed”, which could be translated Dochmey chu’ yInIDtaH ‘ej SIbI’Ha’ bIQap Keep trying new things and eventually you will succeed, but that’s so long compared to the simple not yIjegh!
Oh, that makes sense that what I’m seeking is an idiom, not a literal translation.
Thank you so much!
My best guess is:
problem: qay’
to work: Qap
2nd person singular subject, 3rd person singular object: yI-
thus:
qay’ yIQap
If anyone can confirm or correct, that’d be great!