tlhIngan-Hol Archive: Tue Dec 03 13:03:29 1996
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Re: KLBC: interrogative punctuation
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>Date: Mon, 2 Dec 1996 18:01:59 -0800
>From: "HurghwI'" <[email protected]>
>
>jatlh SuStel:
>
>>When a Klingon has something to say, he just says it. If he has to get
>>someone's attention first (not really necessary in a mailing-list format), he
>>might shout {SuH}, {SU'}, {'eH}, or {SSS} (the last is not actually a word,
>>but is a slurred form or {SuH}). These all mean "Get ready!" They indicate
>>that the speaker is about to give a command. {Su'} and {SuH} can also
>>indicate that something is about to happen.
>
>Wouldn't {SSS} be considered derogatory? It's like if you walked up to a
>terran and said "Here boy!"
Probably not. You're confusing original and derived usage.
"Su'"/"SuH" is an exclamation which is used when about to give orders,
usually to *people*. See p.57. It's sort of like "Listen up!" It's
obviously socially acceptable in Klingon speech, because Klingons say it to
each other. It happens that some people pronounce "Su'" like "SSS", but
it's still the same word with the same meaning.
Now, because it means "Yo, listen up," "SSS" is also used when ordering
animals. That's a borrowing from ordinary commands, I would think.
Although we're told that "SSS" should precede all pet commands, we are NOT
told that it should ONLY precede commands to pets. Indeed, we are told
(p.57) that it means the speaker is about to give orders, presumably to
people.
~mark
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