tlhIngan-Hol Archive: Wed Oct 10 15:11:56 2001
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Re: tlhIngan Hol ngo'qu'
ro'Han:
: I keep finding words specified as "archaic" through TKD and KGT, as well as
: some hints at old forms of words and old structures (eg. the verb *nga', now
: non-existent; the two parts of the word <<betleH>>; the old O-S-V word order
Don't forget the archaic use of {-jaj} in toasts.
: etc). Is there a collection of such archaic uses anywhere, or do I just fish
: through my books till I find most of them?
I don't know if anyone has collected all the surviving {no' Hol} expressions.
But if you do, please share them with the list. To get you started, I searched
my own annotated dictionary for "archaic", "Old Klingon" and "modern" and found
these quotes from Okrand:
"For example, {'ejDo'} means starship. The syllable {'ej} also occurs in
{'ejyo'} 'Starfleet'. There are, however, no known Klingon words {'ej}, {Do'},
or {yo'} that have anything to do with Starfleet, starships, the Federation, or
space vehicles of any kind. It is quite likely that {Do'} is an Old Klingon
word for 'space vessel' (the modern Klingon word is {Duj}) that is used nowhere
except in the noun {'ejDo'}. Of course, without further study, that remains
pure conjecture." (TKD 20)
"[{pe''egh}] comes from an old Klingon habit of keeping track of
accomplishments by making small cuts on one's skin, usually on the face, as a
tally." (TKW 135)
"The word {betleH} is actually an archaic form. In contemporary Klingon, 'sword
of honor' would be {batlh 'etlh}, though this phrase is used almost exclusively
as a translation or explanation of the older word, {betleH}." (KGT 59)
"Among the lower classes-except for those working as servants for the higher
classes - words like {HajDob} and {tu'lum} are known but seldom used, and words
like {jot} and {ru'} are used only in their modern senses." (KGT 42)
"Similarly, the common word for 'teacup' is {Dargh HIvje'} (literally, 'tea
drinking vessel'). Among the upper classes, the word {tu'lum} is used with some
frequency, though, strictly speaking, this archaic word used to mean only a cup
made of metal. (KGT 42)
"... the normal way to describe bland food is to call it {tlhorghHa'} ('not
pungent'). In the past, the word jot was used in this sense, though now its
meaning has changed to 'be calm.' An upper-class diner will, from time to time,
still describe food as {jot}. (KGT 42)
"... the usual word for the leg of an animal, when prepared as food, is {gham}
('limb'), the same word used for the leg of the living animal. A leg served as
food at a banquet in an upper-class household, however, is likely to be called
a {HajDob}, an old word for 'limb.' In another context, such as a meal with
warriors in a ship's {SopwI'pa'} ('mess hall'), only the term {gham} will be
heard." (KGT 42)
"... in an archaic form of Klingon, {ru'} meant something like 'ready to
collapse or die.' It was used to describe weakened prey or a weakened enemy,
but it was also applied to food (particularly fresh organs) meant to be eaten
while still alive or just recently so, the implication being that if it were
not eaten quickly, it would soon be no good. Upper-class Klingons still use the
word in this latter sense, referring, for example to {qagh ru'} ('serpent worms
about to die'). The modern meaning of {ru'}, derived from the earlier senses,
is 'be temporary.' Except in upper-class settings, {qagh ru'} would be
interpreted as 'temporary serpent worms,' which would not make much sense at
all." (KGT 42)
"The archaic Klingon phrase {ghIqtal} also means 'to the death', though it is
generally used as a sentence in its own right, a type of exclamation. For
example, just before striking the first blow or firing the first shot in a
battle, warriors may shout {ghIqtal!}" (KGT 49)
"... the traditional warrior's tunic (yIvbeH) was made of a material (what it
was is now unknown) resistant to puncture, just to add a little protection.
Accompanying sleeves (tlhaymey), originally not parts of the tunic itself, were
generally made of animal pelts (veDDIrmey), skin (DIr) with fur (veD) still
attached. (In modern usage, the word yIvbeH in most places means any shirt,
with or without sleeves.)" (KGT 57f)
"A warrior's glove (pogh), also made of skin [DIr], had wide band around the
wrist and sharp protrusions at the knuckles. If there was a special name for
these protrusions, it is lost; they are now called simply {DuQwI'mey} (spikes).
The gloves did not have fingers. They were designed to protect the palm, back
of the hand, and wrist, but to not interfere with the mobility of a warrior's
fingers. Modern gloves (poghmey) generally adhere to this design." (KGT 58)
"... old armor included headgear of some kind apparently called a {mIv}, which,
in modern Klingon, means 'helmet'. The word also survives in the word {mIv'a'}
(crown; literally, 'big helmet' or 'great helmet')" (KGT 58)
William Shatner created a bit of {no' Hol} in his novel "The Ashes of Eden":
*Chalchaj 'qmey* "the Children of Heaven", which he called "an archaic form of
'the sky's offspring'."
Another productive source of possible {no' Hol} roots is to examine modern
nouns ending in {-wI'} and {-Daq} for which there are no corresponding source
nouns or verbs in modern Klingon. For example, there's been much speculation
on this list that there is - or once was - a verb *{De'} from which {De'wI'}
"computer" apparently is derived, or a possible noun *{Qong} which appears in
the compound {QongDaq} "bed".
You should also look at the culture words created by the Paramount writing
staff that Okrand provided official spellings for in the TLD Addendum or KGT
(e.g. {tova'Daq} "mind sharing" (*tova'dok* in DS9 "Soldiers of the Empire") --
these are likely {no' Hol} expressions. Come to think of it, the various
untranslated expletives in TKD may also be {no' Hol} survivals as well;
obscenities often derive from the oldest strata in any language.
--
Voragh
Ca'Non Master of the Klingons