tlhIngan-Hol Archive: Mon Oct 27 09:14:33 2003

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Re: Klingon WOTD: vut (v)

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

At 05:00 AM Monday 10/27/2003, you wrote:
>This is the Klingon Word Of The Day for Monday, October 27, 2003.
>
>Klingon word:   vut
>Part of Speech: verb
>Definition:     cook

As used in canon:

   wam chaH. ghIq Soj luvut.
   They hunt. Then (after that) they prepare food. (HQ 8.3)

   wam chaH 'ej ghIq Soj luvut.
   They hunt and then they prepare food. (HQ 8.3)

"Actually, 'cook' is a convenient but misleading term. The Klingon verb 
{vut}, customarily rendered as 'cook' in Federation Standard and used in 
reference to food only, might better be translated simply as 'prepare, 
make, fix, assemble' in order to avoid association of the word with heat. 
This is not to say that heat never plays a role in Klingon food 
preparation, but rather that it is not a defining feature of the process. 
There are specific words for specific activities involved with food 
preparation, but {vut} is a general term for all of them. In fact, {vut} 
can also be used in reference to making a beverage, whether simply mixing 
ingredients together (such a putting cream in coffee) or starting from 
scratch (such as brewing ale)." (KGT 83)

"the Klingon verb {vut} is conventionally translated 'cook', but heat is 
seldom involved in the activity." (KGT 205)

"If heat is used as part of food preparation, the cook is most likely to 
{mIQ} (deep-fry) the food." (KGT 93)

"Certain dishes are typically prepared in certain ways, so it is not 
necessary to describe the preparation technique when naming it; the name of 
the plant, animal, or animal part is enough. Thus, {pIpyuS pach} (pipius 
claw) is always prepared the same way; it would be peculiar to hear {pIpyuS 
pach HaHlu'pu'bogh} ("pipius claw that has been marinated; marinated pipius 
claw"), since such phrasing would be redundant. By contrast, the claw of 
the ka'raj is prepared in a variety of ways, so saying that dinner will 
consist of {qa'raj pach} ("ka'raj claw") is not giving enough information. 
If a dish with a standard preparation technique (a {nay' motlh}, 'usual 
dish') is being offered, asking how it is to be prepared is a demonstration 
of cultural ignorance. Thus, in addition to pipius claw, questions about 
{bIreQtagh} (bregit lung), {targh tIq} (heart of targ), {raHta'} (racht), 
{tlhImqaH} (zilm'kach), and {Qaj tlhuQ} (kradge tail) should be avoided." 
(KGT 94)

"Eating is done with hands only. There is no Klingon fork or spoon. If the 
cook has prepared the food properly, there should be no need to use a knife 
either, though, from time to time, one is quite useful." (KGT 99)]

Cf. also {vutmeH 'un} and {vut'un} "flat-bottomed pot for food preparation 
(regional)", {vutpa'} "galley", {vutwI'} "cook" and {vutwI' quv} "head chef".



-- 
Voragh
Ca'Non Master of the Klingons

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