[96291] in tlhIngan-Hol
Re: [Tlhingan-hol] Klingon Word of the Day: von
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Steven Boozer)
Tue May 28 09:51:12 2013
From: Steven Boozer <sboozer@uchicago.edu>
To: "tlhingan-hol@kli.org" <tlhingan-hol@kli.org>
Date: Tue, 28 May 2013 13:51:00 +0000
In-Reply-To: <95310e8bc4b7ef92e3026e22dfeded3b@localhost.localdomain>
Errors-To: tlhingan-hol-bounces@stodi.digitalkingdom.org
> Klingon Word of the Day for Monday, May 27, 2013
>
> Klingon word: von
> Part of speech: verb
> Definition: trap, entrap
> Source: KGT
KGT 165f.: This verb [{vonlu'}] literally means "be trapped, entrapped". The verb {von}, usually translated as "trap, entrap", means "put (someone) in a position from which there is no escape." For a Klingon, to be in such a position, to be unable to fight back, is most dishonorable, especially since he or she is likely to be viewed in a helpless state. Thus, it is a sign of utter failure. The slang expression is used in such constructions as {bIvonlu'pu'} ("You have failed completely"; literally, "You have been trapped").
In standard Klingon, the same idea may be expressed by saying {lujbej} (certainly fail), {lujchu'} (fail perfectly), or {lujqu'} (really fail), all based on {luj} (fail). Note that {luj} is also used to mean lose (as in "lose at a game"). To say "I lose" is {jIluj}; to say "I lose in a big way" is {jIlujqu'} or {jIlujchu'}. The slang term {vonlu'} is not used in reference to games. It means "perform most inadequately, ineffectually, unsuccessfully" and is applied to one's performance as a warrior, tactician, political usurper, and the like.
The {qorvIt} is a "rodent that eats through plants, commonly found on Klingon farms, where farmers have set traps for them." (DeCandido, "Klingon Empire: A Burning House" (KEBH))
PUN:
"Von Trapp" (Captain Von Trapp in the movie "The Sound of Music" was played by Christopher Plummer, who also played Chang in ST6.)
Similar verbs:
weH raid
Sam locate, seek and find
ghoch track [down]
tu' find
nej look for, seek, search for
wam hunt
--
Voragh
Ca'Non Master of the Klingons
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