tlhIngan-Hol Archive: Sat Nov 18 15:26:36 2000

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Re: Klingon WOTD: Huy'Dung (n-body)



> Klingon word:   Huy'Dung
> Part of Speech: body part noun
> Definition:     forehead
> 
> Additional Notes:
> KGT. (regional).  See also {'aQlo'}, {boD}, {jargh}, {mIQ}, {no''och}, 
> {tuqvol}, and, of course, {Quch}.
 
quljIb:
: I'm told that the word for "forehead" in Klingon varies from region to
: region and dialect to dialect.  Does anyone have a full list of those
: terms?  Voragh?

Okrand discussed them in _Klingon for the Galactic Traveller_, in the first
chapter "The Fiction of Klingon Conformity":

"The standard word for this prominent part of Klingon anatomy is {Quch},
and this word is found with this meaning throughout the Empire. In
addition, however, practically every dialect has its own alternate word for
'forehead.' Indeed, {Quch} is simply the word for 'forehead' in the First
City. Among these other forms are: {boD}, {jargh}, {mIQ}, {'aQlo'},
{Huy'Dung}, {tuqvol}, {no''och}. While the first four of these words are
simply regionalisms for 'forehead,' the last three can be analyzed, at
least partially. {Huy'Dung} is probably from {Huy' Dung} ('above the
eyebrow[s]'). The word {tuqvol} may contain the word {tuq} ('house
[lineage]) because family resemblances can be seen in forehead ridges. The
second element, {vol}, however, is otherwise unknown. Similarly, the first
syllable of {no''och} may derive from {no'} ('ancestors'), again suggesting
something about genealogy. The second syllable, {'och}, probably resembles
{'och} ('tunnel') only accidentally; there is no reason to think that
'ancestors' tunnel' is a way to say 'forehead'." (KGT 28f.) 

As yo can see, Okrand didn't say which word comes from which dialect.  But
as a compensation, I do have a few more tidbits on {Quch}:

  "The casting of Alexander's forehead displays the {Quch} of a proud 
  house."  (KGT 28 ill.)

This is the caption to a still photo from TNG "Parallels".  IIRC Worf
exclaimed, "Ah, the ridges of a warrior!" when he unwrapped the casting - a
birthday gift from Alexander to his father.

  Soch QuchDu' 
  seven foreheads CK

  chorgh QuchDu' 'IH 
  eight beautiful foreheads CK 

  Hab SoSlI' Quch!
  Your mother has a smooth forehead! PK

  QuchwIj roSQo'!
  Do not lick my forehead! PK [pet command]

  Quch DaHutlh 
  You lack a forehead. KGT 

"The remark 'You lack a forehead' would be considered extremely offensive
to a Klingon, calling into question his or her very identity. Since there
are any number of phrases involving money that cold be taken the wrong way
if {Huch} is pronounced {Quch}, many tourists follow the Klingon practice
of using the term {DarSeqmey} (darseks)... to refer to money in general.
Thus, 'You lack money' would be {DarSeqmey DaHutlh} (literally, 'You lack
darseks')." (KGT 193f) 

And finally, though not canonical, the epigraph to the KLI translation of
Hamlet as translated by Seqram: 

    naDev qonwI' qab'e' Dalegh: 
    SeQpIr qab 'IHmoH QuchDaj ghegh 

    This figure, that thou seest here put, 
    It was for gentle Shakespeare cut 


-- 
Voragh                       
Ca'Non Master of the Klingons 


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