tlhIngan-Hol Archive: Fri Jan 24 12:50:40 2003
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Re: Klingon WOTD: bom (v)
>This is the Klingon Word Of The Day for Friday, January 24, 2003.
>
>Klingon word: bom
>Part of Speech: verb
>Definition: sing, chant
>
>Additional Notes:
>Okrand's Notes, HolQeD Vol. 2, No. 4. A better translation might be "chant."
>TKW, p.17
>KGT.
As used in canon:
bomDI' 'IwwIj qaqaw
The memory of you sings in my blood.
("When my blood sings, I remember you"). TKW
Okrand has discussed it and the homophonous noun {bom} "song, chant":
The Klingon word for music is {QoQ}. This refers to any music, vocal
or instrumental or both together. A song is a {bom}, and to sing a
song is likewise {bom}. (KGT 71)
But a better translation might be "chant". (HolQeD 2.4)
It is never inappropriate to burst into song (there is a special verb
for this: {wup}) and sing a {may' bom}. At any social gathering, in
addition to eating and drinking, there is no question that there will
also be singing. (KGT 77)
The drinking songs are always sung loudly (this would probably be
described by using the term {pe'vIl} ["forcefully"]), seldom with
instrumental accompaniment, and they tend to be rather lengthy ({nI'})
and, from a non-Klingon perspective, repetitive. (KGT 78)
And there's the idiom {may' bom pIm bom} "sing a different battle song":
This expression means "speak of another matter entirely". It is used when
someone changes the topic or offers clarification on an existing one or
when some new information comes to light. When uttered, it is frequently
preceded by {DaH} ("now") or {toH} ("Aha!"). For example, if a Klingon
warrior who has chosen to ignore a messenger bearing what he thinks will
be an irrelevant communiqué finds out that the message is from the leader
of the High Council himself, the warrior may say {DaH may' bom pIm Dabom}
("Now you sing a different battle song.")--that is, "Well, that's another
matter altogether." The idiomatic meaning comes across regardless of who
is said to be "singing" ({may' bom pIm wIbom}, "We sing a different battle
song'; {may' bom pIm lubom} "They sing a different battle song," etc.).
(KGT 118f.)
--
Voragh "Damage control is easy. Reading Klingon
- that's
Ca'Non Master of the Klingons hard!" (Montgomery
Scott, STIV)