tlhIngan-Hol Archive: Tue Oct 30 08:22:56 2007
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Re: Klingon WOTD: ta' (noun)
>This is the Klingon Word Of The Day for Tuesday, October 30, 2007.
>
>Klingon word: ta'
>Part of Speech: noun
>Definition: emperor
Synonym: {voDleH}. The difference between the two nouns is unknown.
Cultural notes:
Throughout Klingon history, and still today, if the leader of the
Empire carries the title {ta'} (Emperor), the way he speaks Klingon
--that is, the dialect used by his family and people from his region
--is always considered the best way. The vocabulary and grammatical
details typical of the leader's area become the current model for
the Empire. The way other people speak, if different, is considered
somehow inferior, and the more any given dialect differs from that
of the Emperor, the more inferior it is considered. Not only is the
way of speaking considered inferior, anyone speaking only a nonstandard
dialect is considered to be inferior as well, motivating everyone to
learn to speak the way the Emperor does. On the other hand, since a
change in leadership tends to bring in an Emperor from a different
lineage and different region, the relative status of the different
varieties can easily change, with a dialect formerly associated with
a certain region becoming the standard dialect spoken by all. As a
result, the various dialects of Klingon have persisted, with most
Klingons becoming adept at several of them. The system by which the
Emperor's dialect is considered the standard dialect stayed in place
even during those times when there was no official Emperor, as has
been the case, until recently, for the last 300 years. Regardless of
the leader's title, the leader's way of speaking is still considered
the best. The term used for the standard dialect, however, harks back
to the Emperors: {ta' tlhIngan Hol} (literally, "the Emperor's Klingon"),
often shortened to {ta' Hol} ("Emperor's language"). It is appropriate
to use these terms regardless of the official title of the leader of
the Empire. [KGT 14f.]
The word also survives in the word {mIv'a'} ("crown"; literally,
"big helmet" or "great helmet"), a ceremonial headpiece worn by
some Klingon emperors. (KGT 58)
If the meat is somewhat older, a common preparation technique is
to {HaH} ("marinate") it in any of a wide variety of concoctions
containing {'Iw} (blood) and/or {vIychorgh} (sap) as a base, along
with assorted animal parts. Meat prepared in this style is also
called {voDleH Ha'DIbaH} ("emperor's meat"), again with the specific
animal used instead of {Ha'DIbaH}; for example, {voDleH lIngta'}
("emperor's lingta"). (Presumably there was an emperor at one time
who liked his meat prepared in this fashion.) (KGT 90f)
The Second Dynasty ended when General K'trelan assassinated Emperor Reclaw.
For the next 10 years the empire was ruled by a council elected by the
people. Modern-day Klingon historians refer to this as the Dark Time. But
it's interesting to note that this was the first and only experiment in
Klingon democracy and actually produced several reforms. (DS9 "You Are
Cordially Invited...")
>Homonyms:
> ta' (noun) - accomplishment, deed
Used in canon:
ta'mey Dun, bommey Dun
Great deeds, great songs. TKW
Related nouns:
{tuH} adventure; {Qu'} mission, operation
> ta' (verb) - accomplish
Used in canon:
vIta'pu'be'
I didn't do it. TKD
Qu'Daj ta'taHvIS Hegh 'e' tul Hoch tlhIngan
To die in the line of duty is the hope of every Klingon. TKW
DaH nuq ta'pu' Day joH
What has Lady Di done now? RT
'oy'naQ DaQeqDI' mIw wa'DIch Data', 'ach 'oy'naQ Dachu'DI' mIw paghDIch
Data'
When you aim the painstik, you accomplish the first step, but when you turn
the painstik on, you accomplish the zeroth step. KGT
'oy'naQ Dachu'Ha'DI' mIw HochDIch Data'
When you turn the painstik off, you accomplish the last step. KGT
Related verbs:
{vang} "act, take action"; {chav} "achieve, attain"; {ruch} "proceed"
--
Voragh
Ca'Non Master of the Klingons