tlhIngan-Hol Archive: Wed Dec 02 08:35:27 1998
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Re: KLBC (was:Re: BATLH TLHINGAN HOL VIJATL
: ja' [email protected]:
: >You brought up an interesting question...if chegh is used solely to
refer to
: >returning "to a place", how *would* one refer to returning a salute, or a
: >phone call, or something similar?
:
: Why is the word "return" important? chovan; qavan. chorI'; qarI'. nap.
:
: >I suppose one could say that a salute was given, and that this
: >was the reason I saluted...but it seems rather ...bulky.
:
: chovanmo' qavan. *I* don't see this as particularly bulky. Klingon is
: very good at conveying lots of information by adding short syllables.
:
: -- ghunchu'wI'
Even more concise: {mavanchuq}. {-chuq} does not imply simultaneity, only
reciprocity.
However, keep in mind that Klingon saluting etiquette is not be the same as
the
Terran. We've seen Klingons salute superior officers several times and in
different ways, from TOS through DS9, but I don't recall seeing the superior
ever return the salute. Nod or grunt in acknowledgement yes, but they've
never
saluted the inferior back. Klingons are a more rank-conscious aristocratic
society and seniors may just expect it as their due, like being addressed as
{joH} or {qaH}.
Also, the homophonous noun {van} not only means a "salute", but also "tribute"
- which only flows in one direction: up. In addition:
A {van bom}, literally "salute song" or "tribute song", is something
like a hymn or anthem (indeed, hymn and anthem are common translations
of {van bom}) in that it is sung at occasions where it is appropriate
to express one's feelings of loyalty and dedication to someone or
something. Most typically, a {van bom} praises the Klingon Empire
itself, often invoking its founder, Kahless." (KGT p.77)
N.B.: to express one's feelings of loyalty, dedication, and praise - *not*
mutual courtesy, as is the Terran custom (at least in the U.S. military, in
which I served for five years as a Navy officer). And finally, remember the
proverb:
Hovmey Davan
You salute the stars. TKW
The naked stars do not salute you back, though they may remember.
_________________________________________________________________________
Voragh "Grammatici certant et adhuc sub judice
Ca'Non Master of the Klingons lis est." Horace (Ars Poetica)