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         *          An Introduction to The Klingon Language          *
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         *                  Part 1: Introductions                    *
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     This guide to the Klingon Language was compiled from two main sources:
'The Final Reflection', by John M. Ford, and 'The Klingon Dictionary', by
Marc Orkand. Both books are highly reccomended for further study, as well as
these additional sources: 'The Klingons' suppliment for 'Star Trek - The Role
Playing Game', first edition (co-concieved with John M. Ford); the section on
the Klingons in both 'The Making of Star Trek' by Stephen E. Whitfield and some
guy named Roddenberry, and 'The World of Star Trek', by David Gerrold; 'Pawns
and Symbols', by Majliss Larson; and anything else I may have forgotten. And
regardless of what I have forgotten, this text series is dedicated to all those
listed above and mentioned elswhere (with the exception of Vonda McIntyre, and
if by some miracle this text should reach her, I should hope that she knows
that I am not alone is wishing that she would quit redefining everything in
'Star Trek' to suit her personal desires and simply write entertaining novels
that are ACCURATE!!!) with the confines of this series.

     Since this is meant only to be an introdution to the Klingon Language, and
not an official comprehensive text, two things need to be made clear before
continuing on to the subject matter. The first of which concerns the source
materials. As the 'Dictionary' was written by the same person who designed both
the Klingon and Vulcan languages for the 'Star Trek' films, Mr Orkand's very
excellent version of the Klingon vocabulary is considered by Paramount Pictures
as being the 'official recognized version' of the subject in question. And due
to it's concise nature in detailing all of the proper aspects of a language, is
for almost all intents deserving of it's status. It really is a well done text
dictionary for translating another language into English, even if it is one
that exists only in the hearts and minds of the fans. Now, if only some other
texts used for REAL languages were structured like this....


     However, as with most things concerning 'Star Trek', the fans who actually
breathe the majority of life into this American institution have had a bit of
difference of opinion on some of Mr. Orkand's material. This conflict stems
from Orkand's apparant discrediting certain Klingon language elements as those
used in 'The Final Reflection', the most notable of these being certain 'color-
ful metaphors'that are vital to any language. The fans, while accepting the
'Dictionary' well enough to prompt multiple print runs by the publisher, still
considered the phrases in 'Reflection' as having jurisdiction based on the
fact that 'they were there first.' Not to mention the fact that despite the
small number of words presented in 'Reflection' (as compared with roughly 15
times as much in the 'Dictionary'), John Ford's Klingon Language elements were
still able to reveal a remarkable amount of phonetic and grammatical structure.
One reviewer for a fan magazine (which has grown so dull over the years that
it will not be named here...) even made comparisons betwixt Ford's phrases and
the Russian Language, which with all of it's cases, declensions and tenses is
considered one of the more complexly structured of all Terran languages.


     Still, only Orkand's version is 'officially' recognized by those who are
in publishing 'Star Trek' related material, and reportedly only the Orkand
material will 'sanctioned' for use in forthcoming 'Trek' novels and films. It
should be noted, however, that Orkand does mention in his preface that there
are several different Klingon dialects, and that the one used is dependent on
which racial or political faction is currently in power. Keeping this in mind,
it is now quite possible for both the Ford and Orkand versions to co-exist in
the 'Star Trek' universe. Adding further credability to this notion is the fact
that some of Orkand's terms have more than one Klingon equivalent, a fact that
the author also acknowledges, and states that the differences may either be
dialectically related, or may in fact refer to the same item under different
circumstances, uses, forms, or an unspecified variant nature.


     Thus, taking all of Orkand's disclaimers into consideration, as well as
the preferences of the fans, this series of Introductions will take advantage
of both versions, as well as the other smattering of phrases and terms from
some of the other 'Trek' novels and movies, most notably, terms and phrases
from
'Pawns and Symbols", by Majliss Larson, and whatever can be distilled from the
first 'Trek' movie, whose Klingon and Vulcan phrases were also concieved by Mr.
Orkand, but were not supported by the versions used in the Third film. This, in
fact, may be the true reason for admitting the existence of several different
dialects: a cover for discarding prior material. I should also note that in her
most recent novel 'Battlestations!', Diane Carey also makes mention of the
differing Klingon sub-races, as well as Vonda McIntyre in her rather...well,
disputed novel "Enterprise: The First Mission'. The former manages to even use
races mentioned in both the Ford and Orkand materials, while the latter merely
ignores them in favor of 'her' rather convoluted views on how the Klingons
should behave. Still, their contributions and/or contradictions neede to be
mentioned here, as they may yet pop up in this Introduction...


     Finally, the second point that needs to be stressed is that the materials
presented here are, with the exception of my own personal interpretations, the
property of Paramount Pictures Inc, and any reproduction of these materials for
the intent of resale, is expressly prohibited, forbidden, and punishable by
law (or whatever it's applicable equivalent happens to be at the moment of the
arrest...). This material can be distributed as freeware only, and any use of
for downloading on a 'pay board' or similar computer communications system is
bound by these restrictions and their accompanying penalties. To put it in a
nutshell, this stuff is the property of Paramount where sales are concerned,
but when it's given away, it's considered part of our National heritage, and
it's things like that that not only make this country great, but kept 'Star
Trek' alive during those bleak years of the early 70's. Paramount has, for the
most part, realized this, so don't worry about having this stuff in your hot
little hands.


     Besides, it's only here to make this BBS a bit more unique. Betcha won't
find this stuff on any CTSA boards, either; they have enough trouble speaking
English!!


                                         Omega Man/Khaless III

                                           -System Emperor

                                              The Klingon Empire! BBS

                                                 512-471-5850