tlhIngan-Hol Archive: Thu Oct 23 09:56:34 2003

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Re: Klingon WOTD: yan (n)

Steven Boozer ([email protected]) [KLI Member] 


>This is the Klingon Word Of The Day for Thursday, October 23, 2003.
>
>Klingon word:   yan
>Part of Speech: noun
>Definition:     sword
>
>Additional Notes:
>KGT p. 60.  Another word normally translated as "sword," {yan}, is more 
>specific, referring to swords (that is, weapons with long blades) only.

In the Krotmag Region "a sword is often termed yan 'etlh (or even 'etlh 
yan)--literally, sword sword." (KGT 19)

There's a photo of Worf's portable {lat} (shrine?) with its carved doors 
open, containing a statuette of what appears to be Kahless holding a 
conventional straight sword (interestingly, NOT his bat'leth) in TKW (p. 
210).  Also, some of the huge statues in the {Subpu' vaS} "Hall of Heroes" 
at Ty'Gokor - seen in DS9 "Apocalypse Rising" - were holding straight 
swords; there's a photo of Gowron standing in front of two of these statues 
in KGT (p. 98).

>See also {'etlh}, {yaD}.

    The word {'etlh} is used for "sword" in general, but it really
    means "blade" of any kind. (KGT 60f)

    Similarly, a slang word for "sword" is {yaD} (literally, "toe"), based
    on the Krotmag pronunciation of {yaD} as {yaN}, which to most Klingons
    will sound like {yan} ("sword"). (KGT 22)

Note too the homophonous verb {yan} "wield, use or manipulate a sword" and 
the derived noun {yanwI'}  "swordfighter".


-- 
Voragh
Ca'Non Master of the Klingons

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