[89457] in tlhIngan-Hol
RE: Hoghvam qaSpu'
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Steven Boozer)
Tue Sep 6 10:17:28 2011
From: Steven Boozer <sboozer@uchicago.edu>
To: "tlhingan-hol@kli.org" <tlhingan-hol@kli.org>
Date: Tue, 6 Sep 2011 09:09:03 -0500
In-Reply-To: <BAY166-W18B490E5F896A6F2DA477DAA1D0@phx.gbl>
Errors-to: tlhingan-hol-bounce@kli.org
Reply-to: tlhingan-hol@kli.org
nuQum QeS 'utlh:
>> (Technically, they were former officers and cabinet ministers, but I
>> couldn't figure out how to express that succinctly in Klingon).
>
> Klingon makes a couple of spectacular distinctions in this regard. As
> I didn't read the original article I'm not sure what status the former
> officers and cabinet ministers have now, but I'd be tempted to use the
> verb {mIl} "be formerly honoured but now disgraced".
FYI...
"[{mIl}] 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." [HQ 12.3:8-9]
"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." [KGT 50f.]
{'utlh} is also used by former list Grammarians - like QeS - who served with honor.
--
Voragh
Ca'Non Master of the Klingons
