tlhIngan-Hol Archive: Wed Dec 04 14:13:23 2002
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Re: Klingon WOTD: tuj (n)
----- Original Message -----
From: "Steven Boozer" <[email protected]>>
> > >>> 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.
Very true... It was just a thought.. a way of accepting why we don't know of
it yet. Mind you as Klingon seems to be about accuracy perhaps they never
needed a noun perhaps they just used the verb adectively or as a verb and
never required found a need for a noun. Perhaps not and the noun followed
the pattern of heat/be hot but I know I can't assume anything there.
E.g. when we might say, "the cold was bitter" a Klingon might say, "the cold
wind was bitter" or if no wind, "the cold air was bitter" etc...
I agree about your Natural languages comment but doesn't a natural language
grow from the users culture. I'm having trouble thinking of uses for a noun
"cold" except for expressions of discomfort; "The cold is unbearable" etc ..
As Klingons aren't supposed to consider comfort maybe that could be another
reason not to have developed a Klingon noun for it (should that be the
case). Of course to counter my own argument a Klingon slant on that same
concept could be "{the cold} is refreshing" but there again they could just
as easily say, "the cold air is refreshing" or whatever is appropriate as I
suggested above..
Maybe we'll be given a noun for cold but I know from past experience I can
only play with what we know.
> SuStel:
> >Hmm! What about /tujHa'ghach/?
I like it
> Using qe'San's definition, not bad - especially in a scientific
> context. Cryogenics, anyone?
qe'San