tlhIngan-Hol Archive: Mon Oct 03 13:17:40 2005
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Re: Klingon WOTD: mab (noun)
>This is the Klingon Word Of The Day for Saturday, October 1, 2005.
>
>Klingon word: mab
>Part of Speech: noun
>Definition: treaty
>Source: TKD (93 KE, 158 EK)
IIRC {mab} has never been used in a Klingon sentence, but "treaty" is
mentioned passim in KGT:
"After years marked by increased cooperation, mutual understanding, and
sharing of knowledge, a protracted period of relative amity between the
Klingon Empire and the United Federation of Planets came to an abrupt end
not long ago when the Empire withdrew from the peace treaty known as the
Khitomer Accords over an incident regarding war with the Cardassian Union.
Ironically, that same war has brought the two governments back together.
Though he did so with some trepidation, Klingon Chancellor Gowron recently
agreed to once again honor the accords and to engage in joint missions with
the Federation." (KGT 1)
"The idiom {bIQ'a'Daq 'oHtaH 'etlh'e'} ("The sword is in the ocean") is
used to mean that something has ended, that it is impossible to return to a
prior condition, just as Kahless and Morath never spoke to each other
again. The expression might be used, for example, in reference to a treaty
that was just signed, suggesting that a former state of antagonism has
ended forever." (KGT 121-22)
"Though no official treaty or agreement exists, Klingons generally follow a
naming scheme used throughout the galaxy whereby a planet's name is really
the name of its sun (or one of them) followed by a number referring to its
orbit." (KGT 141)
Cf. also the nouns {rojmab} "peace treaty" (e.g. {'orghen rojmab} The
Organian Peace Treaty), {rom} "accord" and {rojHom} truce.
Note the verb {qI'} "sign (a treaty)". Whether "(a treaty)" in TKD notes a
restriction or an example is unknown. Both interpretations have been
argued vociferously since Okrand has never used the verb in a sentence.
--
Voragh
Ca'Non Master of the Klingons