[2479] in tlhIngan-Hol
Re: Meaning of nuqneH
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU)
Fri Jan 7 14:47:19 1994
Reply-To: "Klingon Language List" <tlhIngan-Hol@klingon.East.Sun.COM>
From: Will Martin <whm2m@uva.pcmail.virginia.edu>
To: "Klingon Language List" <tlhIngan-Hol@klingon.East.Sun.COM>
Date: Fri, 7 Jan 94 14:01:40 EST
On Jan 7, 6:33am, Richard Kennaway wrote:
> Subject: Meaning of nuqneH
>
> mat begins some messages:
> >nuqneH:
>
> "nuqneH" is described as the nearest Klingon equivalent to "hello", but it
> seems quite wrong to use it to preface one's initial utterance in a
> conversation. Literally, it means "what do you want?"...
> Richard Kennaway
Your point is well taken. Many people on this list use {qajatlh} to open
a conversation. While it violates the advice on CK (speaking of Klingon
greetings: "There is ONLY ONE."), it makes a lot of sense. It carries the
mood of a leather clad biker barking, "I'm talking to YOU!" so it is equally
agressive as {nuqneH}, but more appropriate in meaning.
Meanwhile, on CK, it clearly advises that if you have something to say,
you should just say it and not open the conversation with ANY greeting. My
suspicion is that a Klingon would probably be only mildly annoyed by
{qajatlh}, meaning that if you say it, he probably won't kill you, so you
could either open a conversation with {qajatlh} or just by stating your
business. I agree, however, that using {nuqneH} to mean anything different
from "Why are you looking at me?" could initiate a higher level of suspicion,
irritation, and the accompanying potential of the loss of your physical
integrity. I've never seen a disruptor with a stun setting.
-- charghwI'
