tlhIngan-Hol Archive: Mon Feb 28 15:37:35 2005

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RE: Klingon WOTD: ruQ (verb)

cheesbro ([email protected]) [KLI Member] [Hol po'wI']



> > >>> Klingon word:   ruQ
> > >>> Part of Speech: verb
> > >>> Definition:     control manually, by hand
> > >>> Source: TKD (106 KE, 141 EK)
> 
> ngabwI':
> > >> I thought this was {raQ}
> 
> Voragh:
> > > ngabwI' is right.
> 
> Holtej:
> >No, {raQ} is "manipulate by hand, handle"; {ruQ} is "control manually,
> >by hand."  Maybe these are different, maybe they're not,
> 
> What's the difference between "control by hand" and "manipulate by 
> hand".  ("Manipulate", in fact, is merely a fancy Latinate word meaning
> 
> "control by hand".)  The basic meaning seems to be control or handling by 
> hand, i.e. not by machine/computer.  If you substitute {ruQ} for {raQ} in 
> the KGT paragraph in question (p. 79), I see no real difference:
> 
>     The closest to a general term in this realm may be the verb {raQ},
>     which means "manipulate by hand, handle". It can be applied to
>     carving, sculpting, metalworking, and the like but is really much
>     less specific, referring to activities that involve having some
>     control over some object. For example, in addition to saying {betleH
>     yan} ("He/she wields a bat'leth"), one could say {betleH raQ} ("He/
>     she controls a bat'leth"). By extension, the term {raQ} is also used
>     when referring to controlling a space vessel "manually" (that is,
>     when the controls are manipulated directly by a person rather than
>     a computer):  {Duj raQ} ("He/she controls the ship manually").

I see a big enough difference between ruQ and raQ that I would not be able to 
substitute ruQ into that paragragh.  Yes, ruQ does work with a space vessel, 
but for the whole paragragh it doesn't work.

For me ruQ is when you turn off auto-pilot and manually fly the craft.  Even 
with power tools; one can manually manuver a router around a piece of wood, 
and because they are doing it manually they could make a mistake; or instead 
of ruQ one could let a computerized router cut and shape the wood, thus ever 
piece made will be the same.

raQ is more artistic, being one with whatever it is that is being 
manipulated.  betleH raQ, the user is one with his weapon.  The carver is one 
with his chisle and statue.

ruQ, manual control, you learn from a textbook or something.
raQ, manipulate, comes from inside, a skill you are born with.
Both can be used for somethings like a space craft.  Some people learn how to 
fly from a textbook/school.  Some people are just born with it and when they 
fly it is poetry.


DloraH





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