tlhIngan-Hol Archive: Thu Jan 25 08:29:29 2007

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Re: Dilbert Comic in Klingon for January 24, 2007

Steven Boozer ([email protected])



pm5:
> >>'alIS: {bo'DIjDaq SoHtaHvIS pejatlhQo'! *bam* *bam* *bam*}
> >>Alice: "Order in the court! *bam* *bam* *bam*"

Voragh:
> >  bo'DIjDaq petamchoH!  *moq* *moq* *moq*
> >  Order (Silence) in the court!  *bam* *bam* *bam*
> >
> >Personally, I like {tamchoH} "become quiet/silent" over {jatlhQo'}
> >don't talk".  It's more direct and  more Klingon. YMMV.

DloraH:
>>Plus {tam} covers more than just talking.

QeS:
>Since it's the imperative of the adjectival verb {tam} that we're after,
>wouldn't {petam'eghmoH} or {petam'eghchoHmoH} be preferable to {petam'egh},
>according to KGT?

Like {yItuj'eghmoH} "Heat yourself! Cause yourself to be hot!"?  I don't 
think so.  Look at Okrand's comment again:

   Generally, when a verb describing a state of being (for example,
   {tuj} ["be hot"]) is used in the imperative form, the suffixes
   {-'egh} (reflexive suffix) and {-moH} ("cause") are used as well
   (KGT 117)

The operative word is "generally"... but not always.  (Funny how Okrand 
always leaves himself a loophole!)  In fact, {yItamchoH} "Be quiet! Become 
quiet!" is given explicitly in TKD and also appears in the KCD game:

   When first officer ChaqI was making disparaging comments
   about the Pakled, Gowron said, "{yItamchoH}!"       [KCD]

and in the KCD novelization:

  "{yItamchoH}," I [i.e. Gowron] said to ChaqI.  [STK p.102]

As for *{petam'eghchoHmoH}, I think that's overkill.  I can find no 
examples of {-choH} and {-'egh} being used together on any verb.  {-choH} 
(change of state) often implies an {-'egh}.  E.g.:

   ghorgh tujchoHpu' bIQ
   When will the water be hot? TKD

   tujqu'choH QuQ
   The engine is overheating. TKD

   'etlh QorghHa'lu'chugh ragh 'etlh nIvqu' 'ej jejHa'choH
   Even the best blade will rust and grow dull unless it is cared for. TKW

I don't know if inanimate objects can be said to act on themselves - well, 
maybe the engine can (over)heat itself - but note this one:

   bIboH.  yIjotchoH!
   You're impatient. Calm down! KGT

?{yIjot'eghmoH} "Calm yourself!" might be a possible variant.

Getting back to court, they might actually used Clipped Klingon.  There's a 
non-canonical example of this in TNG "Sins of the Father" said IIRC by K'mpek:

   tam!
   "Be quiet!"

I can easily imagine the judge saying:

   bo'DIjDaq... tam, tam, tam!
   Order in the court!  *bam* *bam* *bam*

while banging his gavel each time he says {tam}.



--
Voragh
Ca'Non Master of the Klingons






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