tlhIngan-Hol Archive: Sat Nov 20 11:13:57 1999

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Re: Klingon WOTD: bang pong (n)



: This is the Klingon Word Of The Day for Saturday, November 20, 1999.
: 
: Klingon word:   bang pong
: Part of Speech: noun
: Definition:     pet name, endearment

[For those who don't have it yet, here's the discussion in _Klingon for the
Galactic Traveller_ (p. 199ff).]

One may refer to one's "romantic partner" as {parmaqqaywI'} (my
{parmaqqay}), but one rarely uses the word in direct address (as in, say,
{parmaqqay HIghoS} [{parmaqqay}, come here]). Instead, couples (officially
married and otherwise) tend to call each other by pet names (sometimes
called endearments or hypocorisms or, in Klingon, {bang pongmey}
["beloveds' names'"]). A {bang pong} is usually couple-specific--that is,
the set of expressions used by one couple is different from that used by
another couple. Pet names are almost never uttered unless the two members
of the couple are alone and, therefore, are seldom known by anyone else.
Indeed, one of the defining characteristics of a bang pong is that it be
secret, known only by the two members of the couple. The phenomenon of the
{bang pong}, however, is not secret. Usually, parents teach their children
how the system works and have to give examples in doing so, though it is
not known whether the example pet names are actual pet names used by the
parents doing the teaching. Sometimes, however, children learn about the
custom from other children. In particular, younger children often tell each
other pet names they have heard. A child who has a reputation for revealing
pet names is usually quite popular among other children, though older
Klingons, upon finding out about his or her lack of propriety, will
certainly take disciplinary action. As children grow older and start to
experience {parmaq} (love, romance) themselves, they tend to become quite
protective of their own {bang pongmey}. Primarily because of the
conversations of children, but also because, despite all precautions, one
member of a couple is on rare occasion overheard saying a {bang pong}, it
is possible to give a small number of examples. A {bang pong} is formed by
attaching {-oy}, the suffix indicating endearment, to an everyday noun.
Most of the resulting terms make very little sense to anyone not in the
particular relationship, and none translates well. Some pet terms are based
on words for kinds of food, such as {chatlhoy} and {'awje'oy}. Perhaps
these words could be rendered in Federation Standard as "soupy" and "poppy"
(from "soda pop"), though neither translation conveys the intimacy and
intensity of the Klingon. Other terms consist of words for weapons plus
{-oy}: for example: {yanoy}, {HIchoy}, {tajoy}, {jorwI'oy}. A third type
involves body parts, Klingon or otherwise, as in {'uSoy}, {'aDoy}, {pIpoy},
{pachoy}. Another term based on a body part, {Ho'oy}, is one of the few
that makes sense to a non-Klingon if it is remembered that {Ho'} is a slang
term for "hero, idol"... Because of the nature of the {parmaq}
relationship, misusing a {bang pong} is a serious cultural offense. This
could mean, among other things, revealing a {bang pong} to someone other
than one's {parmaqqay}, revealing a third party's {bang pong} (regardless
of how this information was acquired), addressing one's {parmaqqay} by the
wrong pet name, or using a {bang pong} in a public setting. Unless a
visitor gets invoved in a serious relationship with a Klingon, it is
strongly advised that one avoid saying anything that can be misinterpreted
as a misused {bang pong}.


-- 
Voragh                       
Ca'Non Master of the Klingons 


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