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* An Introduction to the Klingon Language *
* *
* PART 6: OTHER KINDS OF WORDS *
* *
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By far, the bulk of words in Klingonaase are nouns and verbs. There are
few others which are expediently dumped into one pile by Klingon grammarians.
This pile is commonly referred to as chuvmey, or translated in
Galactic/English,
'leftovers'. Still, it is possible to classify these leftovers somewhat.
PRONOUNS
In addition to the possessive noun suffixes and the pronominal suffixes
for verbs, there are nine pronouns which are individual words.
jIH --> I, me | net --> that
|
SoH --> you | maH --> we, us
|
ghaH --> he/she | tlhIH --> you (plural)
him/her |
| chaH --> they, them (beings)
'oH --> it |
| bIH --> they, them (non-beings)
'e' --> that |
At first glance, it appears that there are actually 10 pronouns. The main
difference between chaH and bIH is that chaH is used for beings who are capable
of speech and possess intelligence, while bIH refers to beings that possess
enither speech nor cognitive intelligence. In the case of 'e' and net, this is
discussed in PART 7: SYNTAX.
There is no grammatical gender distinction in Klingonaase. Third-person
singular pronouns can be translated as 'he' or 'she' as the context dictates.
Pronouns can also be used as nouns, but only for emphasis or increased
clarity. They, however, are not required. Ergo, the following sets of sentences
are all gramattically correct:
legh --> to see
---------------
yaS vIlegh jIH I see the officers
yaS vIlegh
jIH mulegh yaS The officer sees me
mulegh yaS
ghaH vIlegh jIH I see him/her
ghaH vIlegh
vIlegh jIH
vIlegh
Note that the last two sentences could in fact be a bit ambiguous, as they
could equally mean 'I see them' as well as 'I see her/him'. If the context does
not make it clear which meaning is intended, then pronouns can and should be
used in translation.
ghaH vIlegh I see him/her
chaH vIlegh I see them
Pronouns are not used in possessive constructions in the same way nouns
are. Instead, the set of possesive noun suffixes are used. Pronouns can also be
used as verbs, as in the sense of 'I am', etc. Finally, again, when speaking
to a native speaker, usage of pronouns is optional.
NUMBERS
Originally, the Klingons had a base-3 numeric system, which of course will
get a bit complicated as counting progresses. So, a decimal system was adopted
in order to simplyfy mathmatical and scientific concerns, especially those that
were 'gained' from other civilizations and races.
The numbers in Klingonaase are as follows. Keep in mind that some words
are different in the various dialects despite attempts at standardized numeric
unification over the past Emperial dynasties.
Rumaiym Klingonii Kumburan Daqawlu
/WIjngan
0 --> pagh pach pagh Dagh
1 --> wa' Hwa' wa' wa'
2 --> cha' Sa SHa' cha'
3 --> wej ren ren' wej
4 --> loS loS' loS' loS'
5 --> vagh wagh vagh vagh
6 --> jav ghav jav' ghiv'
7 --> Soch Sogh Soch' Soch
8 --> chorgh chorgh ghorgh chorgh
9 --> Hut HuD' Hutlh' Hut'
10 --> wa'maH Hwa'maH wa'maH wa'maH
Higher numbers are formed by adding special number-forming elements to the
basic set of numbers (1-9). Thus, wa'maH (ten) consists of wa' (one) plus the
number-forming element maH (ten). Counting essentially continues as follows,
with the numberforming elements remaining the same throughout all of the known
dialects, with one exception. Thus, Rumaiym is used for clarity:
11 --> wa'maH wa' (literally, 10 and 1)
12 --) wa'maH cha' (literally, 10 and 2)
..and so on. For higher numbers, the basic numbers are modified with the
following number-forming elements.
maH --> ten
vatlh --> hundred
SaD --> thousand
SanID --> thousand (Kumburan, Daqawlu only)
netlh --> ten thousand
bIp --> hundred thousand
'uy' --> milion
SHov' --> billion
Thus, the following elements are used as follows. Rumaiym is used for
clarity:
20 --> cha'maH (literally, two tens)
21 --> cha'maH wa' (literally, two tens and one)
.
.
30 --> wejmaH (literally, three tens)
.
.
100 --> wa'vatlh (literally, one hundred)
101 --> wa'vatlh wa' (literally, one hundred and one)
.
.
etc...
As numbers progress, the same pattern of construction continues, as in
Galactic/English:
5,347 --> vaghSad wejvatlh loSmaH Soch
(literally, 5 thousands, 3 hundreds, 4 tens and 7)
Numbers are used as nouns. As such, they may stand alone as subjects or
objects or they may modify another noun. For example:
mulegh cha' (two see me)
from: mu-
legh
cha'
wa' yIHoH (kill one (of them)!)
from: wa'
yI-
HoH
In the case of the second sentence, the use of wa' is only for added em-
phasis, as yI- indicates a singular yet unspecified object.
Numbers can also be used as modifiers by preceeding the noun inteded to
be modified. For example:
loS puqpu' or loS puq (four children)
vaghmaH yuQmey or vaghmaH yuQ (fifty planets)
The plural suffixes, -pu', -mey, are not necessary when a number is used
in the sentence. Again, they are added only for clarity.
When a number is used for numbering, as opposed to counting, it follows
then noun. For comparison:
DuS wa' (torpedo tube # 1)
wa' DuS (one torpedo tube)
Ordinal numbers, such as first, second, third, etc., are formed by adding
one of two suffixes to the base numbers. With one exception, the suffix is the
same for all dialects:
All dialects |
except | Kumburan
Kumburan |
_______________|_______________
|
-DIch | -DIgh
Ordinal numbers always follow the noun they are referring to. By adding
another suffix, the notion of repetitions can be expressed. Again, this suffix
is the same for all dialects save one:
All dialects |
except | Kumburan
Kumburan |
|
_______________|_______________
|
-loch | -tlhogh
These numbers function as adverbias, which are discussed later on in this
section.
CONJUNCTIONS
Conjunctions are of two types: those that join nouns together and those
that join sentences together. The meanings of the two types of conjunctions,
however, are the same. The conjunctions listed below are the same for all known
dialects:
joining joining English
nouns sentences translation
____________________________________________________
je 'ej and
joq qoj and/or
ghap pagh either/or
These conjunctions that join nouns come after the final noun. Look at the
following examples:
DeS 'uS je (an arm and a leg)
DeS 'uS joq (an arm or a leg or both)
DeS 'uS ghap (either an arm or a leg, but not both)
nouns used
DeS (arm) 'uS (leg)
The noun conjunction, je, has an additional function: when it follows a
verb it has the same meaning as Galactic/English 'also' or 'too'.
For example:
qaleghpu' je (I saw you also)
or
(I saw you too)
This can be a bit ambiguous, so the exact meanings of such conjunctionary
phrases must be determined from the context of the rest of the sentence.
In addition to the three listed above, there is one other sentence conjun-
ction:
'ach but, nevertheless, however, so.
It should be noted that in the Daqawlu dialect it is often shortened to
'a, while in Klingonii/Klinzhaii dialect it is often substituted with 'agh or
morerrarely, 'aH.
As for the usage of sentence conjunctions, this is discussed in PART 7 in
more detail.
ADVERBIALS
Adverbials usually come at the begenning of a sentence, and of course
describe the manner of the activity referred to by the verb of the sentence.
The following is a list of the known adverbials. While others obviously exist,
until they are made commonly availiable the student of Klingonaase would be
advised use noun - verb combinations to produce adverbials not listed below. Of
the following, only the Rumaiym dialectic adverbials are listed:
batlh (with honor, in an honored fashion)
bong (by accident, accidentally, not intentionally)
chaq (perhaps)
chIch (on purpose, puposely)
DaH (now)
Do' (with luck, luckily)
loQ (slightly, a little bit)
nom (fast, quickly)
not (never)
pay' (suddenly)
pIj (often)
QIt (slowly)
reH (always)
rut (sometimes)
tugh (soon)
vaj (thus, in that case, so, accordingly, then)
wej (not yet)
qub' (rarely)
As for examples of the use of the above adverbials:
bong yaS vIHoHpu' (I accidentally killed the officer)
(vIHoHpu' ,
yaS )
vaj Daleghpu' (then you have seen it)
(Daleghpu' )
There is one word that fits somewhat awkwardly in this category, as it
follows the verb which it modifies as opposed to preceeding it as the other ad-
verbials do.
neH only, merely, just.
ex: qama' vIqIppu' neH (I merely hit the prisoner)
from: qama'
vI-
qIp
-pu'
neH
Also, unlike the rest of the adverbials, neH can follow a noun. In such
cases, neH takes on the meaning 'only' or 'alone'.
ex: jonta' neH (only the engine)
vengDaq neH (only in the city,
in the city alone)
Adverbials sometimes occur alone, as if they functioned as exclamations.
For example:
nom (move fast! Move quickly!)
wej (Don't do it yet!)
tugh (hurry up!)
EXCLAMATIONS
In addition to those adverbials that can stand alone, there are expressions
that stand alone as sentences in their own right. These exclamations are words
that are, next to the so-called 'colorful metaphors', the most often and most
easily remembered by non-speakers. In fact, these words are the few that manage
to 'jump across the dialectic gaps' that exist between Klingonaase dialects, so
thse words will most likely be know by a native speaker regardless of which
dialect is being spoken.
However, while the majority of exclamations listed below are derived from
the Rumaiym dialect, there are some from the other dialects as well. Note also
that the aforementioned 'colorful metaphors' are dealt with separately from the
'normal' exclamations.
Rumaiym
ghobe' (no! - response to a question)
Ha' (let's go! Come on!)
HiSlaH (yes! - response to a question)
luq (yes, okay, I will)
maj (good - expressing satisfaction>)
majQa' (very good, well done)
nuqneH (what do you want? )
pItlh (Done! Finished!)
Qo' (No!, I won't! I refuse!)
SuH (ready!)
toH (well! so! - in guised astonishment or surprise)
wejpuH (Charming... - used ironically)
Klingonii/Klinzhaii
gho' (no! - response to a question)
rIst' (good, well - expressing satisfaction)
qaI' (shout of honor, honorific)
taI'tlhon (worthy opponent)
Sa'tel'ren (two out of three)
SuD' (ready!)
va'ng (acting! - positive response to an order)
teSQas (compliments, congratulations)
jIwa'bej' ('the one' - personal acknowledgement)
Daqawlu'
Su' (ready)
lu' (okay, yes, I will)
Hija' (yes! - response to a command)
tlheD' (leave!)
'laHwI' (worthy, of worth, valuable)
Kumburan/wIjngan
'eH (ready!)
tam' (quiet!)
toH' (well, so, aha! - mild surprise)
QaIbe' (shout of victory - ' have not won!')
All of the aforementioned exclamations are used interchangably where there
are cases of overlapping, such as in the Galactic/English words 'yes', 'yeah',
'yea', 'yo', 'yup' and 'uh-huh'.
EXPLETIVES
The following class of words contains various exclamations most commonly
referred to as expletives or 'colorful metaphors'. These words are essentially
the same as what are called profanities or 'cuss words' in Galactic/English.
It should be noted that although the use of these words is quite commonplace
in Klingonaase, in most other languages such words and phrases are looked upon
as crude and uncivilized. Appropriately enough, these words often do not follow
known rules of order for noun and verb structures, and can actually use noun
and verb parts that have completely different meanings when used separately or
in other sentences.
On that important note, the student of Klingonaase should keep in mind
that certain similar insults from those other language can actually translate
in to Klingonaase as a compiment of sorts! One notable and somewhat 'cleaner'
example is the mid-20th century insult 'your mother's Army boots', which most
Klingons (especially the Daqawlu', who support a unisex military) would take
as high praise of one's linneage! Regardless of the language used, these words
should be used carefully, sparingly, and with appropriate taste. Of course,
Klingons naturally do not follow such guidelines.
Rumaiym
QI'yaH (Assume a military duty station - a low, menial
position is implied here, such as janitorial
duty.)
ghuy'cha' (second born - this insult takes on two different
relative meanings, depending on the dialect of
the object of the phrase. In Rumaiym, this implies
that the object is younger than his sister, a very
strong Rumaiym taboo since the first-born MUST be
a male. In Klingonii/Klinzhaii, this can mean that
either the object has no true lineage, or the
object's acting father, who's consort is the
object's mother, is not the object's real father.
In the Da-qawlu dialect, this can mean all of the
above, as well as stating that the object is of a
lesser race than the speaker.)
Qu'vatlh (literally, perform a hundred missions. As in QI'yaH
the inference is towards a duty station or task
that is considered meanial or below their status.
It is similar to the English insult/order 'drop and
do a hundred push-ups'. In Kumburan, wIjngan and
Daqawlu dialects, this takes on quite a different
meaning, as it is primarily an insult that is dir-
ected towards either a female object, or towards
the object's female parent. The implication in that
case is that the female is one who 'sleeps around'
with quite a number of males. The common Galactic/
English translation is a prostitute or 'hooker'.)
yoH'Ha'qu' (Traditional phrase calling the object a coward. A
literal translation reads 'very unbrave'. This is
a traditional challenge between two Rumaiym before
a Blood Duel, but is considered a general insult
towards any Rumaiym when used by a speaker of
another dialect, which can also result in a Blood
Duel.)
Klingonii/Klinzhaii
Q'est (all-purpose expletive. This can be translated into
several phrases. For example, it can be translated
into the English expletive for consummation of the
sex act, as well as the modification of that term
to describe either a major error on the behalf of a
living object, or a major malfunction on the part
of a non-living device.)
q'est'at (Variation of Q'est. Although this usually refers to
a device that is in a rapidly disintegrating state
of performance, when coupled with the words Quv'
or Quv'let'a' ,
it can be used as an insult towards the object's
female parent. That insult takes the forms Quv'q'-
est'at and Quv'let'est'at, respectively.)
toQe'Human'Stra'v (willing slave of a . This is one
of the most vilest insults a Klingon can say to an-
ther Klingon. According to legend, the civil war of
General Kagga (who's crown was branded to his head
before hid execution) was sparked by then-Emperor
Kahar's issuance of this insult over the General's
failure to defeat the Federation forces at the
battle of Donatu-5. This, according to many schol-
ars of the '5-year's war' between the two 'Empires'
is what diverted enough of the Klingons' attention
to enable the Federation to regain enough ground to
force the Empire to accept a negotiated truce.)
gh'Day't (a curse of damnation. This is another all-purpose
expletive, with the object referred to as being
damned. While this does not usually imply that a
deity is being invoked, in Rumaiym usage it does.
In such use, the name of the deity relaces the
letter t, and possesses the noun suffix -vo. In
reference to anything or anyone else, the t is
often kept, and the object of the curse follows as
a separate word. In Klingonii/Klinzhaii dialect,
the gh' is often pronounced as a rather harsh
'guh' with heavy emphasis on the glottal stop.)
NAMES
One of the most important points about the Klingon language is the proper
pronounciation of Klingon names. Non-speakers frequently mispronounce the names
of Klingons, and when translating into their respective writing systems they
usually end up with spellings that only suggest their true pronounciations. A
prime example is the Klingonaase sound tlh, which is almost always transliter-
ated into the Galactic/English sound Kl. Similarly, Klingon Q is also always
translated as Kr, and when occurring at the end of a name, as English X. The
Klingon q is always rendered as K. Thus, the reason for the use of the trans-
literated forms of Klingon names (including, of course, the word Klingon) is
primarily to take advantage of the average non-speaker's familiarity with this
somewhat incorrect, yet common form of rendering Klingon names.
Names may be used in direct address (that is, calling someone by name) at
the begenning or end of a sentence. Other words in direct address, such as qaH
or joHwI' are used similarly.
ex: torgh HIghoS (Torg, come here!)
(HIghoS )
One final aspect of Klingon names has only recently become fully under-
stood. This is the prefix structure of Klingon first names, so unlike the name
structure of most Human names, which consists of a second name to denote the
linneage of the bearer, and a first name to distinguish the bearer from those
who share the line name (whether it be through actual kinship, or through sheer
coincedence), and often a middle name used to honor one or more particular
persons associated with the line in one way or another.
Klingon names take on this structure instead: the first name is the line-
name from which the Klingon is either born from, has been assigned due to lack
of linneage (an orphan), or has freely chosen in order to start a new line of
his own (an extremely noble, yet often tragic act, as competition between the
lines is often quite violent). The last name is the name that distinguishes the
individual from others of the same line-name.
Unlike Human names, the middle name takes on a very important meaning in
Klingon names. It is used primarily as a honorific of sorts, denoting just how
much status the bearer has, and what amount of respect he/she should recieve.
a Klingon who has no honorific is either not yet an adult, is a pariah, or is
a 'no-rank' enlisted in one of the Armed Services branches.
Honorific meaning
taI' has done nothing notable, but has conducted
his/herself accordingly, and is deserving of
some respect
veStaI' same as above, yet having done at least one
notable act
SutaI' having done several notable acts. Most ship's
commanders or landing force leaders have this
honorific.
HSantaI' of extreme high honor in both personal actions
and of linneage.
epetaI' rarely used for anyone under Klingon middle-age
level, unless used as an insult (calling some-
one an old man or an old fool). Adding the
suffix -HSana' to this honorific produces one
that is so outlandish that it is ONLY used as
an insult, and NEVER in jest.
As expected, the Daqawlu' do not use the honorifics, as they have essen-
tially been 'stripped' of them due to whatever act has made them outcasts. Use
of a Daqawlu' name with the honorific usually produces a violent result from
the name bearer, as well as from the person to whom the speaker is conversing
with (if the listener is not a Daqawlu', but is aware of the person being dis-
cussed). Likewise, the omission of the honorific in the case of a person from
the Klingonii/Klinzhaii dialect can produce a similar result. In every case,
with the exception of the Daqawlu', it is always correct to use the honorific
when addressing a native speaker. A Daqawlu', of course, can usually be
detected
by the lack of a honorific. Most Klingons proudly state their honorifics when
they introduce themselves, almost as if it was a silent shout of victory.
However, regardless of the difference in name structure, the order in
which the name elements are written by native speakers is still the same as for
uman names. For example:
Qenn SutaI'ruStaSH
Qenn --> second, distinguishing name
SutaI' --> honorific, middle name
ruStaSH --> first, line-name
