tlhIngan-Hol Archive: Fri Aug 06 02:07:48 1999

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batlh pemugh! (was *muSHa'* yImuSHa'!)

jagh DajeymeH, nIteb yISuvrup!  I wanted to say that I'm not trying to get 
the last word here, but in a way that's what replacement proverbs are all 
about.

For the record:

If anyone still feels the need of a nebulous, treacherous verb for a strong 
emotional attachment often tinged with sex, I still recommend <muSHa'>.  It 
mimics the word *love* while mocking and deromanticizing it.  To me, 
<qamuSHa'> seems to say:  All the vehemence and passion I'd normally put 
into hating you I'm investing instead in a positive attachment.

Two worthy arguments have been advanced against its use:

1) Klingons may be so up-front and clear about what they feel that they 
have no need of such a word.  Instead of saying "how I un-hate thee", a 
Klingon will "count the ways":  If he likes a female's smell, he'll cross 
the room and tell her so.  If he admires body parts, he'll leave teeth 
marks on them.  If he wants to ****, he'll say, "Let's ****."  This does 
all sound rather Klingon.

2) charghwI' and ghunchu'wI' are challenging us to let go of the familiar 
(though blurry) concept of *love* and, in translating it into Klingon, to 
analyze and sharpen our motivations and meanings.  Recasting as an antidote 
to fuzzy thinking.  As a paid mughwI', lI'qu' qeSvam 'e' vIHonbe'chu'.

batlh pemugh!

pItlh (DaH 'e' yIHar!)

qa'ral

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