tlhIngan-Hol Archive: Fri May 09 11:08:02 1997
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Notes on Klingon Cursing (revised)
- From: Steven Boozer <[email protected]>
- Subject: Notes on Klingon Cursing (revised)
- Date: Fri, 9 May 1997 13:01:39 -0500 (CDT)
After posting my raw notes on epithets and insults, I was embarrassed to
see that they were somewhat redundant and even contradictory or, at least,
confusing, in places. So I have revised and edited them into something
rather more usable (I hope).
It would be interesting to group these expressions in order ranging from
the least offensive (such as va and wejpuH) to the most vulgar (taHqeq and
QI'yaH). In the Empire, saying the wrong thing (jatlhHa') can have dire
consequences. As students of the language, we all need to know when we are
merely being colorful and when we are likely to provoke a duel to the
death!
NOTES ON KLINGON CURSING
The Klingon Dictionary, 5.5 (p. 58):
"Also included in the category of exclamations are Klingon curses. Only
three such curses have been noted to date:
QI'yaH *?!#@
ghuy'cha' *@$%
Qu'vatlh #*@!
The Klingon Dictionary, 5.5 Addendum (p. 178):
"As it turns out, cursing is a fine art among Klingons. There are many more
curses than those three listed in the earlier edition of the dictionary. It
is not always clear how to use the curses, but some are certainly
epithetical (used for name-calling), while others seem to have a more
general application. A few additional curses are listed below:
Epithets General invective
petaQ va
toDSaH ghay'cha'
taHqeq baQa'
yIntagh Hu'tegh
Qovpatlh
Conversational Klingon:
"Keep in mind that Klingon cursing is considered a fine art, a highly-
prized verbal skill. Those who have gained a mastery of this segment of
Klingon vocabulary are greatly admired. At this point, do not concern
yourselves with the exact translations of these words. If you spend time
with Klingons, you will hear them often enough and context will make the
meanings quite clear."
The Klingon Way (p. 148):
"Cursing, or swearing, is considered a fine art among Klingons. One who
curses well is the recipient of a great deal of respect; one who does not
curse well may not be worthy enough to be called Klingon. Thus it was a
compliment when Klingon Governor Vagh said, "You swear well, Picard. You
must have Klingon blood in your veins." [The Mind's Eye] ... The commonly
heard sendoff "Curse well!"--roughly comparable in usage to the Federation
Standard "Good luck!"--literally means, "Shoot curses forcefully!" Curses
are considered a weapon of a sort which must be propelled to their
targets."
First, some vocabulary for talking about cursing:
mu'qaD a curse PK, an insult [N.B. not as in "I put a curse upon you and
your house" or anything like that. Nor is it a swear word. Okrand
intended this as a term for covering the sort of give-and-take name
calling that Klingons might indulge in such as "dishonored son of a
Rigellian spice merchant." (Lawrence Schoen) - matay'DI' vIHtaHbogh bIQ
rur mu'qaDmey Between us, curses run like water. PK - pe'vIl mu'qaDmey
tIbach Curse well! ["The commonly heard sendoff `Curse well!'--roughly
comparable in usage to the Federation Standard `Good luck!'--literally
means, `Shoot curses forcefully!'" TKW: 148]
mu'qaD veS curse-warfare PK - taghbej mu'qaD veS Curse-warfare has
definitely begun. PK
tIch insult ["Verb, to speak in such a way as to cause offense." MSN] -
quvwIj DatIchpu', tera'ngan [You have insulted my honor, Terran.] PK -
tlhIngan quv DatIchDI' Seng yIghuH When you insult a Klingon's honor,
prepare for trouble. TKW
And finally, here's a list of the known curses themselves compiled from
various sources. I have also included extracts from Mark Shoulson's article
"What Did You Call Me?" in HolQeD 3.1 (March 1994) as well as miscellaneous
comments and speculation from participants of the KLI tlhIngan Hol Mailing
List. I believe that Riku Anttila and Kevin Geiselman have written web
pages devoted to this topic and I have quoted them both, but I have
unfortunately lost the URLs. ghuy'cha'!
baQa' b'aka (general invective) [It "may indicate surprise (I've also
interpreted this to indicate anger with oneself: "baQa', I screwed
up!!" (Mark Shoulson, HQ 3.1)] - When Picard failed to convince
Governor Vagh that the Federation wasn't supplying weapons to Kriosian
rebels, Vagh shouted: "You speak the lies of a tah-keck!" Picard calmly
leaned forward and replied, "Qu'vatlh guy'cha b'aka!" Vagh complimented
him, saying: "You swear well, Picard. You must have Klingon blood in
you." (The Mind's Eye)
baktag Klingon word used as an insult, as in a "piece of baktag." (MSN
dB) Its exact translation in unspecified; it is possibly a variant of
petaQ (q.v.). - The day's battles over, partisans of both Duras and
Gowron have gathered in a bar in the First City on Kronos for drinking,
headbutting and armwrestling, etc. Worf's brother Kurn exchanges a few
punches with another Klingon, then laughs and sits with him at a table.
When Worf enters, he introduces the other Klingon to him: "Worf, good!
This piece of baktag is Captain Larg. He commanded the squadron that
tried to destroy us yesterday." (Redemption II)
bIHnuch Klingonese word meaning "coward" (MSN dB). Standard tlhIngan Hol
just uses nuch (q.v.). - This was K'mpec's reply to Worf's formal
admission of cowardice as part of the discommendation ritual. Worf
endured the insult to avoid execution as a traitor's son. (Sins Of The
Father)
DenIb Qatlh Denebian slime devil [listed in the "Curses" section of the
KCD Language Lab.] (syn. DenIbya' Qatlh) - Trying to provoke a fight
with some Enterprise crewmen in the bar on Deep Space Station K-7,
Korax called Capt Kirk as a "Denebian Slime Devil." (The Trouble With
Tribbles)
Dor-sho-gha Klingon curse used to express great frustration (All Good
Things...) [spelled "Dor-sHo-GHA" in the Closed Captions] - Governor
Worf shouts it--sweeping everything off his desk as he does--in
frustration when Picard gets him to do what he wants by appealing once
again to Worf's sense of honor. (All Good Things...)
forshak unknown substance - Worf provokes Thopok in Quark's bar: "Is
there a pile of rotting forshak in here, or is it you?" (Looking for
Par'Mach in All the Wrong Places)
ghay'cha' general invective [a weaker, less intense, possibly polite form
of ghuy'cha' (Mark Shoulson, HQ 3.1)]
ghuy'cha' guy'cha. "Here's another word with strong force. A Klingon
might say it after receiving an unsettling communique. It's a lot
stronger than the Terran `Darn it!'" (CK) [Shows anger when things
start going wrong; it's a stronger, more intense form of ghay'cha'
(Mark Shoulson, HQ 3.1)] - When Picard failed to convince Governor Vagh
that the Federation wasn't supplying weapons to Kriosian rebels, Vagh
shouted: "You speak the lies of a tah-keck!" Picard calmly leaned
forward and replied, "Qu'vatlh guy'cha b'aka!" Vagh complimented him,
saying: "You swear well, Picard. You must have Klingon blood in you."
(The Mind's Eye)
Ha'DIbaH Klingon word meaning "animal" and usable as an epithet.
(Pronounced "KHA-di-bakh.") (MSN dB) - Kruge, whose gunner destroyed
the target (failing to merely disable it as ordered), called him
Ha'DIbaH after blasting him. (ST3) - Worf's father has been accused of
having aided the Romulans in attacking the Khitomer Outpost. When
K'mpec reveals to him that the traitor was in fact Duras' father,
Ja'rod, Worf points at Duras and shouts, "This Ha'DIbaH should have
been fed to the dogs!" (Sins of the Father) - Duras and Gowron are both
anxious to fight each other for leadership of the High Council. Before
that can be done, Picard must, as Arbiter of Succession, formally name
them both as candidates. As Picard enters the conference room, Duras
says: "The Council must have a leader now! Complete the rite so I can
kill this Ha'DI baH!" (Reunion) - Jadzia is persuading Kor to convince
Kang and Koloth to take her with them to a trip of vengeance. Kor says
he can't convince Kang if he has made his mind. Jadzia says he can. Kor
self-pityingly says his best days are behind him. Jadzia comforts him
and says that in her memories he is a great warrior, and leaves. Kor,
touched and almost in tears, mutters: "You devious little hadeebah."
(Blood Oath)
HuH bile PK, gall TKW, slime [in the "Curses" section of KCD: "This word
literally means `bile.'"] - "HuH Pakled!" said ChaqI. "They do not fix
their vessels. They do not even understand how." (KCD novel, p. 101)
Hu'tegh Fuck! Damn! (excl! not a verb, a general invective) - "He's one
Hu'tegh fine gunner!" (Sarek)
jay' intensely (adverbial) "This word not only intensifies whatever is
being said, it turns the whole phrase into an invective. Alone among
the adverbials, jay' always comes at the end of the sentence." (TKD:
177) [It's a "generic grammatical intensifier" (Mark Shoulson, HQ 3.1)]
- qaStaH nuq jay' What the #$%@ is happening? mIch 'elpu' jay' They've
entered the @#$% sector! TKD - SoH 'Iv jay' [Who the hell are you?]
qaStaH nuq jay' [What the hell is happening?] ST6 - ghaytanHa' jay' Not
bloody likely! RTb - *ghobe' jay' Hell no! (KLI mailing list), No
fucking way! (Proechel)
k'pekt A cursing Klingon epithet (pronounced "kuh-PECKED") whose exact
translation is unspecified. (MSN dB) - Old Kor has been participating
in a historical battle in one of Quark's holosuites for three hours but
has paid for only one. Quark has alerted Odo, who tells him to shut
down the power. He does and the drunken Klingon inside is not pleased.
After breaking his way out and screaming a senseless threatening roar,
he sees Quark, "You dare interrupt the Battle of Klach D'kel Brakt!?
You Ferengi k'pekt!" (Blood Oath)
ko'tal derogatory Klingon epithet. "Look what this ko'tal is doing!"
adult Alexander/K'mtar remarked as he pointed out a holographic Klingon
warrior's error during a knife fight. (First Born)
korut epithet used by Kurn to refer to the cautious Bajoran security men
who were trying to calm him: "You miserable koruts!" (Sons of Mogh)
lo'Be Vos Klingon word meaning an unspecified creator or thing without
courage. (MSN dB) - Worf says there's evidence of a Klingon having been
abroad a Federation outpost, where messages have been stolen. Klingon
governor Torak isn't pleased: "You still try to blame us!" "Have the
courage to admit your mistakes," Worf says, "or are you a lo'Be Vos?"
"At least I don't wear the uniform of a p'tak!" Torak retorts. (Aquiel)
lam be' untranslated epithet (Sarek)
mak'dar a Klingon epithet - A drunken Klingon in Quark's Bar is nearly
passed out and out of money but wants credit to buy more bloodwine.
Quark goes to show him out. He bangs the table several times with a mug
to waken the man, then boldly says, "My name is Quark." Kozak awakens,
growls and stands up shakily saying, "You dare to talk to me like that?
You pathetic mak'dar!" He draws a knife and attacks Quark. (House Of
Quark)
maw' tok Klingon expression of surprise (The Chase) (MSN dB)
nuchpu' cowards [listed in the "Curses" section of the KCD Language Lab]
Paramount "Klingonese" uses bIHnuch (q.v.).
petaQ p'tahk, a common Klingonese cursing epithet (MSN dB). Also spelled:
pahtk, pahtak and p'tak. Baktag (q.v.) may be a variant. "No
appropriate translation for this epithet has yet been found." (KCD)
[Useless; garbage; non-functional; generally unable to get anything
done right. This is a devastating insult to someone who has just made a
muddle of something. "My interpretation is that this refers to a weak
individual who doesn't carry the Warrior Spirit within." This may refer
to a weak individual who doesn't carry the Warrior Spirit within;
someone acting non-Klingon." (Riku Anttila) Useless garbage or
incompetent person, possibly equivalent to English "shit" or
"shithead." (Mark Shoulson, HQ 3.1) This epithet has the root taQ "be
weird": as a sentence, literally "be weird, you all!" "To call someone
a petaQ would be calling him some sort of weirdo or pervert." (Kevin A.
Geiselman)] - Romulan Gen Jarok sees Worf and asks Riker, "Tell me, how
do you allow this Klingon pahtk to walk around in a Starfleet uniform?"
(The Defector) - patahk (Sins Of The Father) - Duras is communicating
with Arbiter of Succession Picard about the Sonchi-ceremony for K'mpec.
He sees Worf, at the time discommended, enter the bridge. "Keep that
pahtak away from the ceremony, Picard! He has no place on a Klingon
ship." (Reunion) - J'Ddan, a Klingon exobiologist working on the
Enterprise, is suspected of sabotaging the warp core. As discommended
Worf escorts him to his quarters where he is to be confined, he tries
to persuade Worf to help him steal a shuttle and escape in exchange for
helping Worf to regain his honor. Worf is silent, but when they reach
their destination he hits K'Ddan several times and snarls at him, "I
don't know how you transferred secret information to the Romulans, but
I will find out!" The man spits out "petaQ!". Worf continues: "And when
we inform the High Council, they will put you to a slow death!" (The
Drumhead) - Worf says there's evidence of a Klingon having been abroad
a Federation outpost, where messages have been stolen. Klingon governor
Torak isn't pleased: "You still try to blame us!" "Have the courage to
admit your mistakes," Worf says, "or are you a lo'Be Vos?" "At least I
don't wear the uniform of a p'tak!" Torak retorts. (Aquiel) - Kahless
has apparently returned from the dead but Gowron is not a believer. As
he is transported aboard the Enterprise, Picard is there to welcome
him. "Where is he, Picard?" "I assume that you're referring to
Kahless." "I am referring to the filthy pahtk who's using his name!"
(Rightful Heir) - pah-tak (The Chase: in the script but may not have
been in the aired version) - P'tak (First Born) - Quark has been
kidnapped and awakens in a room in the presence of Tumek, an elderly
Klingon. "Where am I?" ... "You are in the ancestral home of what used
to be known as the House of Kozak." "What's it called now?" "Kozak died
without a male heir... the house no longer has a name." "What about
Kozak's brother, D'Ghor?" "That pahtak's name is not spoken in this
house! He is no brother to Kozak! His family has been a sworn enemy to
this house for seven generations!" (House of Quark) - Three Klingons
come down laughing from Quark's holosuites and notice some Romulans
sitting around the table. They surround the table and Morka says, "Who
let these filthy p'tahk in here?" His friend replies, "Maybe we should
show them the way out." (Visionary) - "Klingon" B'Elanna rescues weak
and timid "human" B'Elanna from the Vidiians, telling her to "Get up,
p'tahk!" when she regains consciousness after fainting. (Faces) - Kor
calls Worf "this traitorous p'tak!" (The Sword of Kahless) - Worf
throws a thief he caught onto Odo's desk saying, "This p'tak just
robbed my quarters!" (Bar Association) - Regent Worf growls to Mirror-
Garak, "So this is the p'tak who lost Terok Nor to the rebels."
(Shattered Mirror) - B'Ellana categorically rejects Tom Paris'
suggestion regarding Ens Vorik: "I am NOT helping that Vulcan p'tak."
(Blood Fever) - The Doctor's holo-son Jeffrey shouted, "I'm going to
become a warrior and I can't do that if I'm being led around on a leash
by some bloodless patahk!" (Real Life) - [K'Tar] glared at Qua'lon,
then spit on the floor. "You petaQ! Your men have ransacked my home.
Taken my belongings, my treasures, beaten my son, dRacLa." (KCD novel
p. 166)
pah an unidentified Klingon expletive (MSN dB) - Worf spits it at J'Ddan
when the spy tries to bribe him. (Legacy)
qagh Sopbe' He doesn't eat gagh! ["Everyone loves gagh, so if one is not
eating it, something must be wrong. This expression is used to to mean
that there is something wrong with someone or that someone is acting
suspiciously. It is also a way to refer to someone as a coward. For
Klingons ... this is a rather mild dismissive remark, not a strong
insult." TKW: 137]
qoH fool, idiot (as epithet) - "qoH!" I was not happy. "You did not engage
the cloaking device fast enough. They have detected us." (Gowron in KCD
novel p. 101) - "She's not dwelling in the past, like this qoH."
(Sarek)
Qatlh slime devil (cf. DenIb Qatlh) - "Two to one ... Even a Federation
Qtalh [sic] like you can figure those odds." (The Ashes of Eden)
Qa'Hom "little animal" (e.g. Ligonian titmouse) KCD ["The translation
`titmouse' is really only an approximation of what this word means. A
Qa'Hom is a small animal considered rather insignificant. The word
literally means `little Qa'.' A Qa' is a larger, more dangerous animal.
A Qa'Hom is not a young Qa', but it does bear a vague resemblence to
its namesake." (Note: the picture is of a small, four-footed rodent
with a lot of hair.) KCD] [As portrayed in the still visual in the
Language Lab, this bears no resemblance whatever to the small Terran
bird called a "titmouse" but looks more like a small, four-footed
rodent with a lot of hair, like a hedgehog. (Someone probably didn't
realize that a titmouse is a bird!) It sounds like Okrand was aware of
the error and tried to explain it away. Note that the entry on Qa'Hom
is in the "Curses" section of the program. The word Qa'Hom can
apparently be applied to someone (or some animal) that may act like
it's a viscious Qa' but is, in fact, just a little, harmless creature,
fluffing itself up to make itself look bigger. Calling someone a Qa'Hom
obviously implies that he is weak and unable to defend himself, and
thus not worth killing. (This is how Gowron uses it in the introduction
to the KCD Immersion Studies.)]
QI'yaH vulgar Klingon expression (MSN dB) "This is one of the strongest,
most foul expressions in the Klingon language. It defies adequate
translation." (KCD) ["Shows disgust or repulsion with a thing or
situation." (Mark Shoulson, HQ 3.1)] - "The bartender," I said.
"QI'yaH. Are You sure, Pakled?" (KCD novel p. 106) "You are too late,"
she said. "He is gone." "Where?" She shook her head. "I wish I knew."
"QI'yaH." (KCD novel p. 108)
Qovpatlh (epithet) - [Insignificant; beneath notice; useless due to
worthlessness. "Oh, don't worry about the Qovpatlh of a captain on the
enemy ship, he's not worth considering." (Riku Anttila)]
Qu'vatlh #*@! Fuck! (expletive!) "This is something you might hear someone
say in moments of extreme anger. Be concerned if you hear it." (CK)
"The invective va is actually just a shortened form of Qu'vatlh." (TKD:
178) [Shows extreme anger, has a rather broad meaning. (Mark Shoulson)
Qu' is task, vatlh is hundred. Qu'vatlh, a hundred tasks. Certainly a
curse at having many things to accomplish and not enough resources to
accomplish them. I personally use this one in my own job." (Kevin
Geiselman)] - When Picard failed to convince Governor Vagh that the
Federation wasn't supplying weapons to Kriosian rebels, Vagh shouted:
"You speak the lies of a tah-keck!" Picard calmly leaned forward and
replied, "Qu'vatlh guy'cha b'aka!" Vagh complimented him, saying: "You
swear well, Picard. You must have Klingon blood in you." (The Mind's
Eye)
r'oiaro Klingonese single-word exclamation or oath (MSN dB) - It was used
by the Klingon renegade Korris when he and Konmel began to plot their
escape from the Enterprise-D security cell and assemble a phaser-like
weapon from hidden uniform parts. (Heart Of Glory)
t'gla An animal (pronounced "TIGG-lah"), ostensibly native to the Klingon
homeworld, which is known for its mindlessness, lack of initiative and
individuality. (MSN dB) - The Klingon Yeto calls Jadzia "a mindless
t'gla" for not fighting back when her symbiont is hijacked by the Trill
Verad and his armed gang. (Invasive Procedures)
taHqeq tahkeck (epithet) "If you call someone this, stand back! This is a
classic insult." (CK) "No translation is available." (MSN dB) [This is
someone you really really don't admire at all, probably epithetical
equivalent to Qu'vatlh. (Mark Shoulson, HQ 3.1) The person is
dishonest, dishonorable, evil, obnoxious, devious, deceitful, and
basically an unpleasant creature to deal with at all. No good
qualities. "This must a serious thing, probably the strongest insult of
all. I suspect it directly insults the honor of the one said to,
calling him `one who fails to take responsibility for his actions,'
`one who can't be trusted,' `one who has no honor.' A taHqeq tells
lies, that's evident; Kahless fought his own brother for twelve days
and nights for telling a lie." (Riku Anttila) It uses taH "to continue"
and qeq "to prepare": "someone who is always preparing but never
acting. A procrastinator (and, by extention, a coward as well)." (Kevin
A. Geiselman) A "martinet"? (qoroq) - When Picard failed to convince
Governor Vagh that the Federation wasn't supplying weapons to Kriosian
rebels, Vagh lost his temper and shouted: "You speak the lies of a
tahkeck!" (The Mind's Eye)
toDSaH tohzah STE (epithet, pronounced "to-ZAH") "This is something one
Klingon would call another if they weren't on the best of terms." (CK)
[A "wimp, nerd, geek, suck-up." (Mark Shoulson) "... has the elements
of rescue and concerned. Calling someone this would imply that they are
concerned about having someone come to their rescue rather than facing
the business at hand. Always asking, `When is my shift over?' `When
will we get reinforcements?' `Why don't they send help?' A coward."
(Kevin A. Geiselman) The unofficial definition: It implies foppishness,
and softness and weakness. "There's a certain influence in my head from
English `toady' at work here, so I envision some bootlicking implied as
well: soft and flabby and spoiled. I could see a Klingon thinking of
humans as toDSaH." (Riku Anttila)] - General Jarok, the Romulan
defector, insults Worf by saying, "Get this tohzah out of my sight!"
(The Defector)
toh-pah Klingon expletive, as in "you incompetent Toh-pah." (MSN dB) -
The Cardassians fire on the Enterprise and Maht-H'a to disable them and
thus gain an adventage on the chase. Aboard the Enterprise, Capt Nu'Daq
hails his ship: "Maht-H'a, status?" "Minor damage to starboard nacelle.
We will be operational in less than one hour." "WHAT! You incompetent
toh-pah! You were supposed to be prepared!" Later, on the planet where
the genetic puzzle is finally solved, the Cardassian Gul who tried to
deceive both the Klingons and Federation, materializes. Nu'Daq shouts,
"You dishonorable toh-pah!" (The Chase)
tu'HomIraH t'oohomIrah. "A Klingonese word untranslated but by context
meaning a useless or unnecessary thing" (MSN dB), "something useless"
KCD, dunsel, "good-for-nothing" - HurDaq tu'HomIraHvetlh yIlan Get that
piece of junk out of here! KCD - Three old Klingons arrive on DS9 to
pick up Curzon Dax for a trip of vengeance he was bound to with a blood
oath. Instead of Curzon they find Jadzia, who feels compelled to take
Curzon's place even though the Klingons release her from the oath. Kor
is on her side and eventually she manages to impress Koloth with her
skills with the bat'leth, but Kang remains adamant. At that point Kor
asks him, "Why do you dismiss her like some useless t'ooho'mIrah?"
(Blood Oath)
va phew! pha! "The invective va is actually just a shortened form of
Qu'vatlh." (TKD: 178) [used to show "only slight anger or
distemperment" (Mark Shoulson, HQ 3.1)] - va, tujqu' Phew! What a
scorcher! (Katz) - va, yorIq Do'Ha' Alas, poor Yorick! (Proechel's
HOMLET)
veQ garbage. When used as an epithet, one should enunciate clearly. The
KCD entry mentions that the word veH "boundary" carries no negative
connotations at all. - Then speaking to Pok, but looking directly into
Vok's face, [K'Tar] said, "Throw this veQ out." Pok stood and moved
toward Vok, reaching for the unwanted guest. "bIyem'a'!" Vok said. Pok
stopped short of grabbing Vok. ... "The celebration," Vok said, "was
declared a lop'no. You have invited the spirits of all our Klingon
ancestors. Tradition dictates that all are welcome to the lop 'no. Even
ancient rivals. Even me, K'Tar." "Chut Quj," K'Tar said. "Luq ratlh,"
Pok said, almost spitting his words at Vok. (KCD novel p. 23f) "Get
this veQ off my bridge." (KCD novel p. 106) "When we catch this veQ of
a bartender," I said to Pok, "I will let you have the honor of killing
him." (KCD novel p. 107) Qua'lon jumped to his feet, clearly outraged.
"The wife of the veQ who killed my brother may not enter the House of
SepIch." (KCD novel p. 166)
veQnuj untranslated epithet - "Uuughh!" she grunted. "I had to let those
veQ-Nuj handle me. I'm sorry now I just didn't kill them." (Sarek)
verengan Ha'DIbaH Ferengi dog (a classic insult). "This phrase literally
means `Ferengi animal,' but translating it as `Ferengi dog' carries
more of the flavor of the insult." (KCD)
wejpuH Charming! (a mild expletive used only ironically) - Kruge
exclaims, "wejpuH!" at the thought of living peacefully on one of the
new terraformed worlds, mass produced with the Genesis Device, with the
flag of the Federation fluttering overhead. ST3
yIntagh Yintagh. "This is one of a number of Klingon curses that doesn't
have an adequate translation." (KCD) "... apparently means to `cut your
tongue out.' There is no direct translation given, although the
spelling with a capital `I' is indicative of meaning `life-support
system,' perhaps implying a variant on `wind bag' or `big mouth.'" (MSN
dB) [Stupid; dumb as rocks. This is a direct attack at the intelligence
of the victim. May have overtones of petaQ and toDSaH as well: soft,
spoiled, and utterly useless, with stupidity as the overriding factor.
(Riku Anttila)] - Gowron is about to be installed as the head of High
Council, but in the last moment a challenger appears: Toral, very
young, claiming to be the son of Duras, followed by Lursa and B'Etor.
Gowron is not pleased. "This is outrageous! Duras had no mate - where
did you find him, Lursa? In a harlot's bed chamber?" Toral steps
forward: "I will personally cut your tongue out, Yintagh!" (Redemption
I) - What kind of a yInTagh bar is this? (KCD novel)
Abbreviations used:
HQ = HolQeD (the journal of the Klingon Language Institute)
MSN = featured word on MSN's Star Trek: Continuum Klingon Forum
MSN dB = Klingon Database on MSN's Star Trek: Continuum
STE = the Okudas' The Star Trek Encyclopedia
I want to thank those who shared some of their own notes from KCD with me.
One of these days I'm going to finally get a computer capable of running
this program. As always, don't hesitate to let me know (off-list if you
prefer) if I've made any errors or omitted anything from the sea of
available Trek. If I've mis-attributed or misquoted anyone's comments, tell
me and I'll correct my notes. vay' quv vItIch 'e' vIneHbe'bej!
-- Voragh