tlhIngan-Hol Archive: Thu Jun 13 12:29:20 2002

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Re: Klingon WOTD: tlhuch (v)




> > Klingon word:   tlhuch
> > Part of Speech: verb
> > Definition:     exhaust

peHruS asks:
>How does tlhuch compare/contrast with taQbang and natlh?  I never liked the
>argument that on the English side of TKD tlhuch and taQbang both mean
>exhaust, one a verb and one a noun, referring to expelling burned fuel
>residue, just because they are next to each other.  But, I have never heard a
>better explanation of why the author of that ancient post (g) demanded that I
>consider them to be related.  However, later we received the word natlh,
>possibly eliminating the need for tlhuch to mean "exhaust, expend, use up."

{natlh} "exhaust, expend, use up" in the two examples we have from canon:

   nIn Hoch natlhlu'pu'
   All the fuel has been consumed. KGT

   HoS law'qu' natlhmo' So'wI'
   Due to the tremendous energy drain of a cloaking device... S33

We also have {ghImwI'} "exhaust (device?)" from the BoP poster:

   peng baHjan tuj ghImwI'
   heat exhaust for torpedo launcher

[Is this a error by Okrand?  Did he look up "exhaust" in the 
English-Klingon glossary and his eye slipped down a line to the verb {ghIm} 
"exile" when he glanced across the page?  Whatever its origin, now that 
it's been published, it's official.]

My own take is that {tlhuch}, {ghImwI'} and {taQbang} all refer to the 
expended fuel or combustion products of a starship: {tlhuch} is the verb, 
{ghImwI'} is the device or mechanism, and {taQbang} is the discharge itself.

Other non-weapon-related verbs referring to discharging or emitting things 
from a ship include {tlhuD} "emit (energy, radiation)", {yIb} "vent" and 
{nIj} "leak".

Other non-weapon-related nouns for things that can be exhausted or expelled 
from a ship include {pugh} "dregs", {veQ} "garbage" and {DI} "litter, 
rubble, debris, garbage".

>I do not recall anyone ever claiming he/she thought about fatigue.  I can't
>stretch tlhuch that far, either.

I should think not.  We already have {Doy'} "be tired" and {Qop} "be worn 
out" (also means "be dead (referring to food)" in slang).  For the extra 
sense of "be exhausted", {Doy'qu'} or {Doy'chu'} seem perfectly adequate.

>Allright, what I am seeking is the explanation of how we know the real
>meaning.

Aren't we all?  <g>  In this case we have to rely on our own Sprachgefuehl, 
and the fact that Okrand invented the language to discuss starships, space 
flight and other Star Treknology.  Whether these words have non-space 
connotations is unknown until we get more examples of them in use.


-- 
Voragh
Ca'Non Master of the Klingons



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