tlhIngan-Hol Archive: Fri Nov 11 10:09:02 2011
[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next]
Re: [Tlhingan-hol] Irony in Klingon?
ghunchu'wI':
>> Is irony on the list of concepts Lawrence asked for? It should be.
Voragh:
> {tlhaQ} "be funny" ["Causing amusement or laughter." (KLS)]
>
> Cf. {Dogh} "be foolish/silly", {qID} "make/tell a joke", {Hagh} "laugh";
> cf. also {vaq} "mock" [i.e. laugh at] & {nuS} {ridicule}.
Hmm... {qech yoy} "upside down idea"?? Actually, {mu'mey ru'} may already cover the concept:
KGT 176: Sometimes words or phrases are coined for a specific occasion, intentionally violating grammatical rules in order to have an impact. Usually these are never heard again, though some gain currency and might as well be classified as slang. Klingon grammarians call such forms {mu'mey ru'} ("temporary words"). Sometimes, {mu'mey ru'} fill a void--that is, give voice to an idea for which there is no standard (or even slang) expression; sometimes, like slang, they are just more emphatic ways of expressing an idea.
KGT 180: Some speakers of Klingon never use such nonconformist constructions. Some use a few from a stock set. Others seem to be somewhat creative. Among Klingons, there is a fine line between creative use of the language and silliness, however, and Klingons are rather intolerant of the latter. Accordingly, the visitor to a Klingon planet is advised to avoid making such constructions until he or she is very well versed in Klingon culture.
They may not have a word for it, but Klingons certainly understand and use it. The classic example is in ST3 when Kruge exclaims, {wejpuH!} "Charming!" at the thought of living peacefully on one of the new terraformed worlds, mass produced with the Genesis Device, with the flag of the Federation fluttering overhead. Other examples include:
KGT 132: One simile of this type associates a people with a quality opposite from one they actually typify: {nong; vulqangan rur} ("passionate as a Vulcan"). This would be used to describe somebody who was not passionate. As far as can be determined, this is the only use of irony in expressions of this type, and what led to this unique occurrence is not known.
TKD 24: Saying {rojqoq} "so-called peace", rather than simply {roj} "peace", indicates that the speaker does not really believe that peace is legitimate or likely to endure.
PK: It indicates the word is being used ironically or inappropriately: {rojqoq} "the so-called peace", which you believe is actually non-existent.
st.k 11/05/1999: Some speakers, however, are rather creative and use nouns other than {'etlh}. For example: {pumDI' DaS} "when the boot falls," {pumDI' 'obmaQ} "when the ax falls," {pumDI' nagh} "when the stone falls," {pumDI' rutlh} "when the wheel falls." There seems to be no restriction on what noun may be used here, as long as it is something that could possibly fall. (Thus {pumDI' QoQ} "when the music falls" would not be used.) Choosing one noun or another to use in the idiomatic phrase is a form of word play. Depending on the topic being discussed, the noun could add a touch of irony or even humor. In any event, the choice of noun does not change the idiomatic meaning of the phrase. {pumDI' X}, where X is the subject noun, is used to mean "by then, by that time."
KGT 178f.: Another kind of bending of the grammar involves the comparative construction ... As a form of word play, antonyms (that is, words with opposite meanings) other than {law'} and {puS} are sometimes plugged into the formula. The resulting phrases literally make no sense at all, but because of the uniqueness of the {law'/puS} phrases within Klingon grammar, they are always understood. Constructions such as the following might be heard, all meaning, though not literally, "The Klingon is braver than the Ferengi":
tlhIngan yoH HoS verengan yoH puj.
tlhIngan yoH pIv verengan yoH rop.
tlhIngan yoH Daj verengan yoH qetlh.
Such fanciful use of words is found with the superlative construction (something is the most or the best) as well."
TKW 166 (ill.): The "placid sheep" of the Council and their smiles disgust Kor, who prefers the nonsmiling "Organian" [i.e. Kirk] beside him." (cf. TOS "Errand of Mercy")
--
Voragh
Ca'Non Master of the Klingons
_______________________________________________
Tlhingan-hol mailing list
[email protected]
http://stodi.digitalkingdom.org/mailman/listinfo/tlhingan-hol