tlhIngan-Hol Archive: Tue Jan 09 03:22:38 2001

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Klingon WOTD: {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 ()



This is the Klingon Word Of The Day for Tuesday, January 9, 2001.

Klingon word:   {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
Part of Speech: 
Definition:     
  
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