tlhIngan-Hol Archive: Thu Sep 29 06:09:32 1994
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Re: Pronunciation (Was: Re: KLBC: jItagh)
- From: KLI Round Table Acct <[email protected]>
- Subject: Re: Pronunciation (Was: Re: KLBC: jItagh)
- Date: Thu, 29 Sep 1994 09:09:12 -0400 (EDT)
- In-Reply-To: <[email protected]> from "...Paul" at Sep 27, 94 03:50:56 pm
> We could just chalk it up to dialect... :) However, I do disagree with
> your reading on "Q". Especially given the ever-present example of
> Qapla', I think it definitely has an impact signature, unlike "H", which
> is a incremental buildup, with no impact spike.
>
> Example: Try pronouncing Qapla', and then Hapla' (don't care if it's not
> a word, just an example in pronounciation). If "Q" goes by your definition,
> it would be VERY difficult to tell the difference. IMHO, the "H" takes on
> more of a gutteral hiss. (I think I do the "H" really well, since I had
> three years of practice in high school German class pronouncing "ich" and
> all sorts of other "ch" words. Unfortunately, I can only get a good
> gutteral "Q" out after eating a few Snickers bars, when my mouth and
> throat are coated with chocolate... But if I eat too many, I won't be
> a fit Klingon... ;)
>
> ...Paul
I think you've misread something here. Qapla' and *Hapla' would NOT
e difficult to tell apart. While both initial sounds fricatives, the "Q"
is made in a different place in the mouth, further back (as is the "q"),
so they by definition won't sounds alike. However, the problem with
acquiring new phonemes is often that you pick up the ability to produce
them before you've really developed the ear to hear them.
Qapla' is of course a tricky example also because its been butchered by
so many actors. But if you listen to Okrand pronounce it, the initial
phoneme you hear should be easily distinguishable from an "H"
Mind you, I think your suggestion of the Snickers bar might help too.
Lawrence
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