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

[Steven Boozer <sboozer@uchicago.edu>]

> Klingon Word of the Day for Wednesday, May 27, 2015
> 
> Klingon word: Don
> Part of speech: verb
> Definition: be parallel, go parallel to
> Source: TKD

(De'vId, 11/16/2014):  While {Don} means "be parallel," {DonHa'} does not mean "be perpendicular." It means something like "be misaligned."  The word for "be perpendicular" is {leD} and it's normally used with a plural subject: {leD rav tlhoy' je} "the floor and the wall are perpendicular (to each other)." The word {leD} is also used to indicate a right angle: {tajvaj leD}. 

(De'vID, 11/19/2014):  "I actually specifically asked [Okrand] about how to use {Don}, and whether {DonHa'} means "perpendicular". The reason I asked about {Don} is that it's defined as both "be parallel" and "go parallel to", suggesting it can either take a plural subject (?{Don rav, rav'eq je}) or an object (?{'entepray' Don Qo'noS wa'}). He answered with {leD}, which he explained is normally used with plural subjects (implying it doesn't take an object). Does that make {Don} and {leD} a pair of words which one might expect to be parallel, but actually aren't quite - that is, as if they were misaligned ({DonHa'})? :-) I think that's part of the joke.

TREK TRIVIA:

An unnamed Klingon D-7 battlecruiser maintained a parallel course with the Enterprise to Troyius. "He's paralleling us again." (Spock, TOS "Elaan of Troyius")

"We are on a parallel course with [the asteroid-ship] Yonada" (TOS "For the World is Hollow and I Have Touched the Sky")

SEE ALSO:
SaS 			be horizontal (v)
leD 			be perpendicular (v)
nech 			be lateral, move laterally (v)
taH 			be at a negative angle (v)
ol 			be in an attitude

HeDon 		parallel course (n)
tajvaj  		angle (n)


--
Voragh
Ca'Non Master of the Klingons


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