tlhIngan-Hol Archive: Sun Feb 15 10:01:03 1998

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Re: leng SajwIj

From: Andeen, Eric <[email protected]>
>SKI: pagh's pet CAN speak, at least a little bit. One specimen of the
>species can certainly speak and understand English. I've written about
>this before, and won't go into a rant on it again.

Not to try to make you rant again, but I have problems with this
interpretation.

I don't believe the "beings capable of using language" refers to a physical
capacity.  If the noun in question can be thought of as a PERSON, of
whatever species, then the noun may be referred to with {ghaH} or {-wI'},
etc.  The choice of {'oH} or {ghaH} is not an evaluation by the speaker of
the noun's capacity for language, it is much more general, applied to
particular nouns regularly.  Only in the most extreme cases will a Klingon
intentionally go against the norm.  A particularly verobse parrot is not
extreme enough.

Suppose a Klingon were talking about a Horta.  Would he use {'oH} simply
because the Horta does not (apparently) speak?  (Spock also communicated
with a humpback whale telepathically, which to me certainly falls into the
{'oH} category.  A Horta is very likely much more intelligent than a whale.
Telepathic communication does not prove {ghaH}ness.)

Parrots are {'oH} whether they speak or not.  Whales are {'oH} by any
typical evaluation of their intelligence and society.  Hortas are {ghaH}.
Mute humans are {ghaH}.  Artificial life-forms which mimic humanoid form are
{ghaH}.  Computers and speaking robots are {'oH}.

Here's an extreme case: The Doctor's companion K-9 was an intelligent robot
in the shape of a dog, and it could speak.  It would be difficult for a
Klingon to classify such an entity.  I would go with {ghaH}.  Artificial
life-forms would probably be judged on their capacity for using language
much more specifically than anything else.  If K-9 were unable to
communicate with language, he would be {'oH}.  Similarly, R2-D2 is {ghaH},
though he does not resemble humanoid form.

And before anyone jumps up and down crying sacrilege and assult, these are
my opinions only.

SuStel
Stardate 98126.3

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