[84073] in tlhIngan-Hol
Re: KCD 5
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Steven Boozer)
Mon Jan 28 15:39:18 2008
Date: Mon, 28 Jan 2008 14:37:04 -0600
To: tlhingan-hol@kli.org
From: Steven Boozer <sboozer@uchicago.edu>
In-Reply-To: <f5b478ef0801252109t1dce94a5vde247f9adb7248c8@mail.gmail.co
m>
Errors-to: tlhingan-hol-bounce@kli.org
Reply-to: tlhingan-hol@kli.org
Here's what I have from the novelization (p. 23f.) of this scene in my
notes, which did include a bit of tlhIngan Hol:
Then speaking to Pok, but looking directly into Vok's face,
[K'Tar] said, "Throw this {veQ} out."
Pok stood and moved toward Vok, reaching for the unwanted guest.
"{bIyem'a'!}" Vok said. Pok stopped short of grabbing Vok...
"The celebration," Vok said, "was declared a *lop'no*. You have
invited the spirits of all our Klingon ancestors. Tradition
dictates that all are welcome to the *lop 'no*. Even ancient
rivals. Even me, K'Tar."
"{Chut Quj}," K'Tar said.
"{Luq ratlh}," Pok said, almost spitting his words at Vok.
qa'vaj wrote:
>[K'Tar:]
>Throw this {veQ} out.
>naDevvo' veQvam yIwoD!
I would drop {naDevvo'}: {veQvam yIwoD!} "Throw this garbage away (out)!"
>[Vok:]
>{bIyem}!, {va}!.
>bIyem! va!
{bIyem'a'} "Will/Would you sin?"
In the absence of gods, which you recall the ancient Klingons killed, {yem}
"sin" now seems to mean "act dishonorably, violate the rules of one's own
society/culture". Okrand has hinted at this without actually stating it
outright:
KGT 166f.: In the Krotmag dialect, {yeb} (wrist) is pronounced {yem},
identical to the verb {yem} (sin). In parallel fashion, {ngIb} (ankle) is
pronounced {ngIm}, identical to the verb {ngIm} (be putrid). Thus, the
wrist gained an association with sinning, or dishonorable behavior; the
ankle, with putridity, perhaps moral decay.
TKW 189: those who violate the rules of their own cultures and do not
observe their own virtues are acting dishonorably and are not to be trusted.
TKW 190: those who are found to have violated the rules of society are
often punished by being forced to do particularly strenuous or distasteful
work.
>The celebration was declared a {lopno'}, you have invited all the spirits
>of our Klingon ancestors. Tradition dictates that all are welcome to the
>{lopno'}, even ancient rivals, even .... me, K'Tar
>
>lopno' 'oH lopvam'e' 'e' maqlu'. lopvam muv tlhIngan no'maj qa'mey Hoch
>'e' Datlhob. lopno' muvlaH Hoch 'e' poQ lurDech. muvlaH je jagh tIQ.
>jImuvlaH je .... jIH, qI'tar.
For rival, consider {ghol} "opponent, adversary". It's somewhat less than
{jagh} "enemy".
>[K'Tar:]
>*chugooyj
>chu' ghu'wIj.
"Our situation is new"??
If the novel can be trusted, it's {chut Quj} whatever that might mean -
"play (by) the rules (i.e. of law/tradition/society/culture)" perhaps?
The last time this came up on the list, someone suggested K'Tar might
really have said {chut QIj}, "He explained the law." The authors, or more
likely the copy editor, often changed I's to u or added extraneous u's in
other places; for example *Quapla'* instead of {Qapla'}. Note BTW that
sentences are almost invariably capitalized by Simon & Schuster,
irregardless of the rules of Okrand's tlhIngan Hol system; this may be a
house rule or a an old habit dying hard.
>[K'Tar to Pok]
>*lugrattla
>lugh, ratlhlaH.
{luq, ratlh} "Okay, he stays."
/rattla/ might have been the actor's attempt at {ratlh}. /tlh/ often
throws actors for a loop. For instance, Gowron pronounced {batlh} clearly
as English "battle" while reciting his qualifications to become the new
Leader of the High Council for Arbiter of Succession Jean-Luc Picard (TNG
"Reunion").
--
Voragh
Ca'Non Master of the Klingons
