tlhIngan-Hol Archive: Fri Dec 28 06:41:58 2001

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RE: Klingon Poe: angels, fiend



ghItlh Voragh:

>Various people have tried to translate Bible texts.  If any of them >are 
>reading >this, I'll let them pass on their suggestions.

qechmey lo'laH ghajbej *Bible mughwI'pu'. potlh vuDchaj.
chaq lulab.

>I would suggest going back to the original meanings of the words

pov qechvam

>According to >Merriam-Webster's dictionary:
>an·gel
>Etymology: Middle English, from Old English engel & Old French angele; both 
>from Late Latin angelus, from Greek angelos, literally, messenger

>The underlying meaning of angel is "messenger".  Although there's no word 
>for >"messenger" per se in Klingon, we do have:
>
>   Duy     agent, emissary
>   Duy'a'  ambassador
>   'oSwI'  emissary

>According to Merriam-Webster:
>fiend
>Etymology: Middle English, from Old English fIend; akin to Old High German 
>fIant enemy, Sanskrit pIyati he scorns

>Again, the underlying meaning seems to be "enemy".  (BTW, speaking of the 
>Fiend, "Satan" is not a proper name in the Hebrew Bible; it is simply 
>*ha-satan* or "the adversary".)  In Klingon we have:
>
>   jagh  enemy
>   ghol  opponent, adversary

De'meyvam vIqelnISbej

>if you think just {Duy} or {'oSwI'} would be unclear from
>context, or you need an extra syllable for the verse.

Indeed, they might be confusing. After all, neither {Duy}
nor {'oSwI'} really means an "angel". That's why I'll
probably stick with {Qun Duy}. Likewise, it won't be clear
from the context that {jagh} (or {ghol}) is supposed to mean
"fiend" rather than the usual "enemy"  (or "opponent").
Perhaps {ghol'a'} would do the trick.

>The choice really depends on how the words are used by Poe.  Is this their 
>only mention?  Are the words used over and over?  What role do angels and 
>fiends play in the text?

lut teH 'oHbe'  *"The Power of Words"'e'. lutvamDaq ja'chuq cha' qa'pu':  
*Oinos *Agathos je. qen jubchoH *Oinos . ghaH ghojmoH *Agathos. tera' Dabpu' 
'ach DaH 'u'Daq leng. jatlhtaHvIS chenmoHghach qelqu'. potlhbe' 
{angels}{fiend} je. qelqu'be' *Oinos *Agathos je.

"The Power of Words" is not really a story but a dialogue between two souls 
or spirits, which is what they call themselves (BTW: yet another reason not 
to use {qa'} when referring to {angels}). Oinos, who has only recently 
become immortal, is being instructed by Agathos. Having once lived as humans 
on Earth they now roam the universe and discuss Creation. Angels and the 
fiend are mentioned but they're not important.

'ISqu'


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