tlhIngan-Hol Archive: Thu Nov 29 13:44:18 2007

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Re: mentoring

Steven Boozer ([email protected])



At 02:47 PM Thursday 11/29/2007, Jonathan Webley wrote:

>Can anyone suggest a Klingon translation for "mentor"?

In his novel _Diplomatic Implausibility_ Keith R.A. DeCandido used 
{ghojmoHwI'} for mentor, which is generally used for "teacher" on the 
List.  Apparently Okrand "vetted the glossary", so it's been 
approved.  {ghojwI'}/{ghojmoHwI'} make a nice pair:  teacher/student, 
instructor/instructee, master/apprentice, mentor/protege(e), etc.

If the mentor serves a particular house {tuq}, we have other options from 
the TV episodes:  *ghojmok* and *gin'tak*.

Kahlest was young Worf's {ghojmoq} on Khitomer.  After surviving the 
Romulan attack on the outpost, she returned home to Kronos, living in 
poverty in the First City (TNG "Sins of the Father").  The glosses "nurse, 
nanny, governess" in KGT imply a female.

A *gin'tak* - perhaps *{ghIntaq}? - is an advisor so trusted he has been 
made part of the family and wears a special ring, bearing the crest of the 
House he has pledged pledged his life to defend.  In the TNG episode "First 
Born" future-Alexander impersonated the real K'mtar, time-travelling to the 
past in order to convince his younger self to embrace the warrior ways of 
his people.  Worf recognized K'mtar's ring, saying that "K'mtar is 
*gin'tak* to the House of Mogh".  In DS9 "House of Quark", Grilka's elderly 
male retainer may have been her (or her dead husband's) *gin'tak*.

AFAIK neither word has ever been discussed by Okrand and for all we know 
might be used for either gender.  OTOH it may turn out that a *ghojmok* is 
the female equivalent of a *ghin'tak*.



--
Voragh
Ca'Non Master of the Klingons






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