tlhIngan-Hol Archive: Sat Jun 07 13:13:46 1997
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RE: KLBC: Words for assassin & blade
- From: "Neal Schermerhorn" <[email protected]>
- Subject: RE: KLBC: Words for assassin & blade
- Date: Sat, 7 Jun 97 20:09:02 UT
ghItlh SuStel
>> perhaps the "assassin's knife" was originally a knife >belonging
>> to a warrior named 'aSaSIn or something like it?
>
>Careful! That's (more or less) the *English* word's >derivation. In
Klingon,
>the word we're considering is {qutluch} "assassin's >knife." It *is*
possible
>that there was some renowned killer named {qutluch}, >and that this was the
>sort of knife he used, but this is really just making things >up. We don't
>*know* where the word comes from.
teHqu' - jIHvaD mu'ghom naQ vIchenmoHlI' 'ej DaHjajmo' *new words listing*
*qutluch entry* vIleghbe'. jItlhIj. 'ach - Just because a weapon is often
used by an assassin does not mean that a word exists in tlhIngan Hol meaning
"assassin".
The central question here seems to be this - Is there a need for a word
meaning "assassin"? My view is that there is no need; there are strong
arguments in favor of such a word, but equally strong arguments that there is
none. We must err on the side of conservatism even as we put forth varying
interpretations for review.
I have always felt that if there is any way around the issue at all, we do not
require any more words from Okrand. *tool* is an example of a serious lack
that needs to be filled, but *assassin* clearly is not.