tlhIngan-Hol Archive: Sat Jun 28 09:49:28 1997

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Re: KLBC story: puyjaq

I responded to Qov's story and she wrote back:

> >> ben law' rur HoD.
> >
> >This is a bit confusing.  I read it as "Years ago, the captain resembled
> >him." 
> > What do you mean to say?
> 
> Exactly that.  I can't think of a differently worded translation.

The wording is fine.  You're just lacking some detail for the reader to focus 
on.  Maybe a sentence describing exactly what about him was similar.

> >> <De'wI'> jatlh HoD. <qon: Hovtay' tlh-ng-cha'SaD loSvatlh SochmaH 
> >> chorgh wInuDta'.
> >
> >Given that we know little or nothing about the Klingon writing system, I
> >don't 
> >think we should go and assume that they'd abbreviate things like this.  
(Not 
> >that I know what you're abbreviating.  The first one is obviously
> >{tlhIngan}.)
> 
> yIloyqa'. It's just the catalogue number of a solar system.  TN-2478.  pagh
> 'oS.

Hmmm . . . If I'm supposed to guess again, then why did you tell me the 
answer?  :)

But my response still holds.  I very much doubt that Klingons would cataloge 
things by the phonetics of the language.  They probably have symbols with 
names, or something like that, and we don't know those names.

> >> <wej Hovtay' tlh-ng-2478 wInuD!
> >
> >Got tired of writing out numbers?  :)
> 
> Same number.  I thought it might be clearer that it was a catalogue
> designation if I wrote it closer to the way we do in English.  Guess not.

I knew the whole thing was a cataloge number, but I wasn't too sure about 
exactly where the {tlh} and the {ng} came from.

> >> <puqloD> jatlh HoD.

> >Is the navigator the captain's son?  I suppose so.  Or are you trying to 
> >translate the word "son" when used as a general term of address for a 
superior 
> >to an underling?  In English, "son" might be used, but we have no idea what 

> >Klingons use.
> 
> If I didn't like you I could poke you in the nose for being so picky,
> SuStel.  It was intended as a very mild term of condescension. The navigator
> is, after all, *someone's* son. 

Feel free to poke me in the nose at qep'a' loSDIch, whether you like me or 
not.  :)

> >> <HoD quv> qoy' chIjwI'.  <ghayan SepvamDaq tlhIlmey potlh lutu'lu'.
> >
> >So far, every time we see {tu'lu'} with a plural object, it doesn't use the 

> >{lu-} prefix.  I'd suggest that this be changed to {tlhIlmey potlh tu'lu'}. 
 
> >There's at least one more {tu'lu'} below.
> 
> I think lutu'lu' is the Klingon whom. What is it with the lu- prefix anyway?
> Does anyone else find that all the other prefixes come naturally but you
> have to go back and do a deliberate check for missing lu- prefixes?

Yes.  I know that when I was beginning to learn Klingon, I *constantly* forgot 
about {lu-}.  Finally, it clicked in.  I'll bet Okrand went through a similar 
phase.

> >> Duj QoD chIjwI'. yuQHommey ghomHa'bogh junta'DI' loQ Hong ghur,
> >I don't know if you'd "evade" a planet.  
> 
> planetoids.  Lots of them.  All zipping through the system.  I'd evade them
> if I were piloting.  Maybe ghopDapmey is better.

I see.  Perhaps enforcing the image with a description would be more effective 
than simply looking for a better word.

> >> 'ach bong pIvghor chu'.
> >bong?  bong?!?
> 
> You're just trying to trick me into opening the mu'ghom.  bong:
> accidentally, by accident. Hong leQ lIStaHvIS bong pIvghor leQ mup.
> DaHarbe''a'?

Okay, if that's what really happened.  I just found it hard to believe that 
someone could *accidentally* activate a ship's warp drive . . .

> >> <Haw'! pIvlob wa'maH!> ra' HoD.
> >
> >Warp Factor 10?  These Klingons must be using the old-style Warp scale.
> 
> wa'maH ja'DI' HoD yaj chIjwI'.  <nom yIjaH jay'!>  tIqqu' <Hut DoD Hut Hut
> Hut Hut Hut>.

Well, Klaa says {nom yIghoSqu'} for "Maximum speed."

-- 
SuStel
Beginners' Grammarian
Stardate 97491.3

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