tlhIngan-Hol Archive: Sat May 31 17:27:08 1997
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RE: KLBC: Words for assassin & blade
- From: "David Trimboli" <[email protected]>
- Subject: RE: KLBC: Words for assassin & blade
- Date: Sat, 31 May 97 16:32:34 UT
[email protected] on behalf of Jim LeMaster wrote:
> 1) I have read/seen discussion about a Warrior's Knife and also about an
> an Assassin's Knife (or blade).
> I went back to my TKD and found Daqtagh for "Warrior's Knife" and taj
> for "knife". Looking further, I did not find a single word listed
> for "warrior" (could be a personal problem, I'm using my electronic
> database TKD & could have missed typing it in.) From most things I've
> seen tlhIngan means/is used for both "Klingon" and "Klingon Warrior".
> Is that correct?
> Would a word for warrior alone be ghobwI' <One who wages war>?
In the Addendum of TKD, we find the words {SuvwI'} and {vaj} for "warrior."
({vaj} came about as an Okrandian backfit on Star Trek V.) {SuvwI'} was
constructable anyway, from {Suv} "fight." Okrand has used {SuvwI'} for
"warrior" lots of times.
{ghobwI'} is an interesting word. It certainly means "one who wages war," so
we're left with the question of why we don't see this word used as "warrior."
Perhaps {ghob} is less concerned with hand-to-hand combat (which would be
{Suv}) and refers to large-scale battle. The two uses in TKW (pp. 61, 179)
seem to support this idea. If this is true, then {ghobwI'} would mean someone
(or a side) who wages a large-scale battle or war. Remember, this is just
speculation.
> 2) I have also seen discussion of an Assassin's Knife or an Assassin,
> but find no entry for either "Assassin's Knife" or "Assassin."
> Is there a specific word, or should it be translated something like:
> batlhbe' HoHwI' <one who kills dishonorably>
I see no reason to assume that Klingon assassins are viewed as having no
honor. In fact, I seem to remember some source explaining that an assassin
(giving his target the chance to die honorably) is a respected figure in
Klingon culture. (Anyone know where I'm remembering this from?)
> voQibmey HoHwI' <one who kills from the shadows>
This is not how the noun suffix {-vo'} (or any other suffix) works. Suffixes
always go on the end of a word, not the beginning. "From the shadows" would
be {QIbmeyvo'}. And please remember to capitize every {I}!
> voQibmey mupwI' <one who strikes from the shadows>
> -or-
> QibghobwI' <shadow warrior, i.e., ninja>
> QibHoHwI' <shadow killer>
I see no reason to assume that an assassin must rely on shadows. TKW explains
that the {qutluch} conjures up images similar to Earth's "cloak and dagger";
it refers to intrigue and espionage. Certainly, an assassin might use shadows
when appropriate, but not as a stereotypical means, like the ninja.
Besides, a "shadow killer" might refer to someone who kills shadows!
> 3) The Warrior's Knife has been referred to as an "Honor Blade" on DS9.
> Is there a word for "blade"?
The word for blade is {'etlh}. This word also refers to "sword."
The warrior's knife is the {Daqtagh}. It has no translation that we know of.
> 4) On a couple of shows of ST:TNG a pair of statues of warriors on
> Qo'noS were shown that were holding/carrying sword-like objects that
> were not betlh. There is a word 'etlh for sword. Is there a
> discription of the non-betlh swords anywhere?
You mean {betleH}? The general word {'etlh} would do. We know of the
half-sized {betleh}, the "mek'leth" (correct Klingon pronunciation not yet
known). There are a couple of knives {tajmey}. You would do well to consult
Star Trek: Klingon's Language Lab in the Weapons category.
--
SuStel
Beginners' Grammarian
Stardate 97414.6