Re: [Tlhingan-hol] Klingon Word of the Day: 'utlh

[Steven Boozer <sboozer@uchicago.edu>]

> Klingon Word of the Day for Thursday, May 21, 2015
> 
> Klingon word: 'utlh
> Part of speech: noun
> Definition: officer

KGT 50f.:  A ship's full complement of personnel, crew plus officers, is called a {wey}, perhaps best translated as "company". The general word for officer (in addition to the specific term for various ranks) is {yaS}. An individual crew member is a {beq}. ({QaS} [troops] applies to nonofficers whether or not assigned to a ship.) [...] There is a second term for officer, but it is not frequently used. As is well known, it is considered the duty of officers on Klingon ships to assassinate their immediate superior if the higher-ranking officer has been judged unfit to serve, perhaps as a consequence of neglecting his or her duty, demonstrating cowardice, or behaving dishonorably. This practice extends even to the captain of the ship. As a result, there are not many officers who end their service to the Empire by simply stepping down or retiring. There are some, however, and the word {'utlh} is used to refer to an officer of this type. Perhaps "officer emeritus" is an appropriate translation.

HQ 12.3:  [{mIl} "be formerly honored"] would be applied to a leader who left office in disgrace, for example, or an ousted ship's captain. It would not be used of a {'utlh}, an officer who has stepped down or retired voluntarily and who is still respected.

SEE ALSO:
Deq 		be erstwhile, former, prior, ex- (v)
mIl 		be formerly honored (v)

lu 		fall (suffer loss of status), fall from power (v)
Son 		relieve (v)
paj 		resign (v)

gheS 		assume duties of, take on responsibilities (v)
Sugh 		install [in office] (v)
cho' 		succeed [to authority] (v)

cho' 		succession (n)


--
Voragh
Ca'Non Master of the Klingons



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