tlhIngan-Hol Archive: Tue Jan 18 13:45:20 2005

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Re: Klingon WOTD: ghob (noun)

Steven Boozer ([email protected])



>This is the Klingon Word Of The Day for Sunday, January 16, 2005.
>
>Klingon word:   ghob
>Part of Speech: noun
>Definition:     ethics, virtue
>Source: TKD (86 KE, 131 EK, KGT 215 KE, KGT 262 EK)

   A virtue is a particularly valued quality or a form of behavior
   that exemplifies moral correctness, as defined by a society...
   Indeed, the Klingon word {ghob} may be translated as "ethics"
   or "virtue", linguistic evidence that the concept is not unknown
   or never discussed among the Klingons themselves. It is probably
   significant that the Klingon word for "do battle", or "wage war"
   is likewise {ghob}. Though some, perhaps many, of a society's
   virtues are represented in its legal codes, a virtue is not a
   law. A violation of a virtue need not carry with it any legal
   sanction. A virtue does not even have to be followed all the
   time to still be considered a virtue. What is important is that
   members of the society agree that the virtue represents what
   should be done, even if it is not done. When a virtue is ignored,
   all recognize the transgression, even if there are no immediate
   consequences. (TKW vii)

See also _The Ethics of Star Trek_ by Judith Barad & Ed Robinson (New York: 
HarperCollins, 2000).

As used in canon:

   qorDu' SaHlu'chugh 'ej matlhlu'chugh vaj wa' tlhIngan ghob potlhqu'
   devotion and loyalty to family is one of the most important Klingon 
virtues. S13

   tlhIngan ghobmey paq
   "The Klingon Book of Virtues"
   [i.e. original title of TKW; cf. The Library of Congress' MARC-CIP]

   ghob tIvnISbe'lu'
   One need not enjoy virtue. TKW

   pop 'oH ghob'e'
   Virtue is the reward. TKW

"This proverb does not mean 'Virtue is honor.' The use of the word {pop} 
suggests that virtue is the honor bestowed as a result of acting in a 
manner respectful of society's values, not simply advocating them." (TKW 47)

   batlh ghob yIpab
   Adhere to virtue honorably. TKW

"The Klingon verb in the expression, {pab}, is here translated 'adhere', 
but it is also used to mean 'follow', in the sense of following rules, 
suggesting perhaps that, though not officially laws, virtues should be 
followed as if they were." (TKW 47)

>Homonyms:
>     ghob (verb) - fight, battle, do battle, wage war

Cf. also the nouns {tIgh} "custom" and {potlh} "consequential thing, 
something important" (cf. {tlhIngan qorDu' potlh} "Klingon Family Values" S13).



--
Voragh
Ca'Non Master of the Klingons






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