tlhIngan-Hol Archive: Fri Jun 14 09:37:02 1996
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Re: To greet or not to greet? The canonical question
You (Thomas Zeman) said:
> nuqneH is specifically mentioned as being used only if you *must*
> use a greeting, but it is not encouraged or preferred. It is also always
> used by the person being approached, rather than the person doing the
> approaching. This is consistent in every example. Walking into a
> conversation, such as this list, and announcing "nuqneH!" is
> inappropriate and wrong. I interpret it more like when you walk up to
> the counter in a store and then don't say anything. Eventually the
> person behind the counter will say "Yes?", or "May I help you?" to begin
> the conversation. Every example of nuqneH is used in this same context.
I always understood that 'nuqneH' was the challenge of the Klingon
who was about to be adressed, i.e. not the initiator of the conversation.
This way the initiator is forced/reminded to come to the point immediately.
Therefor a mail to the list starting with nuqneH would be inapropriate,
but no reason to flame the poor beginner to death (remember: Klingons
hate burning their food }}:).
> I agree that newbies should not be treated rudely, and I don't think
> they have been, but it should be kept in mind that this is a KLINGON
> list. Klingons would correct mistakes swiftly, forcefully, and
> immediately.
This may not be the best way to introduce the newcomers to your
culture, or at least not the most durable.
May you die in battle,
Wouter
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Wouter Slegers, 4th year CS, [email protected]
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