tlhIngan-Hol Archive: Fri Jul 01 07:36:42 2005
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Re: Klingon WOTD: chong (verb)
>This is the Klingon Word Of The Day for Friday, July 1, 2005.
>
>Category: Stative Verbs
>
>Klingon word: chong
>Part of Speech: verb
>Definition: be profound, thorough, careful (slang)
>
>Homonyms:
> chong (verb) - be good, excellent (slang)
As used in (semi?) canon:
chong!
Brilliant! (Spice Williams in ST5 DVD, extra "making of" feature)
"Literally 'be vertical', this word is used to refer to one's intellect, as
in {chong tlhIngan SuvwI'} ("The Klingon warrior is profound"--literally,
"The Klingon warrior is vertical"). In its literal sense, this word is the
opposite of {SaS} ('be horizontal'), and as a slang term, it is an opposite
as well, as {SaS} is used to mean 'be shallow, superficial'. It is most
likely that {chong} took on its slang meaning because of the prior
existence of {SaS}, which has been used as slang for a much longer time. An
equivalent meaning may be expressed without slang by using a word such as
{Qubchu'} ('think perfectly, think clearly'), as in {Qubchu' tlhIngan
SuvwI'} ('The Klingon warrior thinks clearly'). The word {chong} may also
be used as an exclamation expressing approval or satisfaction, somewhat
like standard {maj} ('good'). Thus, one may describe one's feelings about a
skillfully made knife or about an upcoming social event by saying simply
{chong} (literally, 'vertical' but meaning 'good, excellent, admirable').
See also {qu'} (literally, 'be fierce'), another slang term used to express
approval." (KGT 148-49)
"To describe someone as {SaS} is certainly insulting, as in {SaS DIvI' HoD}
("The Federation captain is shallow"--that is, literally, "The Federation
captain is horizontal") ... A slang word with a meaning similar to {SaS} is
{natlh} (literally, "consume, use up" [see page 155]). The opposite
meaning--that is, 'profound, thorough, good'--is often expressed by the
slang verbs {chong} (literally, 'be vertical') and {qu'} (literally, 'be
fierce')." (KGT 164f.)
"Slang terms expressing the opposite of {natlh}--that is, approval--are
{chong} (literally, 'be vertical') and {qu'} (literally, 'be fierce')."
(KGT 155)]
Cf. also the exclamation {majQa'} "Well done! Very good!" and the verb
{val} "be clever, intelligent".
>Homonyms:
> chong (verb) - be vertical
I.e. "be upright, rightside up". Antonyms include {SaS} "be horizontal",
{yoy} "be upside down" and {taH} "be at a negative angle".
Related verbs of motion include {Sal} "ascend", {ghIr} "descend"
and {nech} "be lateral, move laterally".
--
Voragh
Ca'Non Master of the Klingons