tlhIngan-Hol Archive: Tue Dec 03 17:25:25 2002

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Re: Klingon WOTD: tuj (n)




> >>> Klingon word:   tuj
> >>> Part of Speech: noun
> >>> Definition:     heat

Voragh:
> >> Note the homophonous verb {tuj} "be hot".  Oddly, the opposite quality
> >> {bIr} "be cold" does not have a corresponding noun *{bIr} "cold".  (Or
> >> Maltz simply forgot to mention it.)

qe'San:
> > My understanding of physics may be lacking so forgive me but
> > maybe there isn't a noun at all for "cold" untold or otherwise.
> > Isn't cold a lack of heat i.e. heat is something.
> > cold is a lack of something.

Perhaps true in the greater scheme of things but completely irrelevant when 
it comes to natural languages.  (All the languages I've heard of have words 
for "heat" and "cold", almost always from different roots come to think of 
it.  "Hot" and "cold" are primal ideas.)  Klingon was supposed to be a 
"natural"-feeling artificial language.  IOW this ain't supposed to be 
Vulcan, folks.

SuStel:
>Hmm!  What about /tujHa'ghach/?

Using qe'San's definition, not bad - especially in a scientific 
context.  Cryogenics, anyone?



-- 
Voragh                            "All the meaning is in the context."
Ca'Non Master of the Klingons           (Ilya Kabakov, Russian artist)



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