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[[File:Klingon written language.jpg|thumb|An example of Klingon script reading (in [[English language|English]]): "deck 2, red sector"]] |
[[File:Klingon written language.jpg|thumb|An example of Klingon script reading (in [[English language|English]]): "deck 2, red sector"]] |
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[[File:Klingon script.gif|thumb|The Klingon written language]] |
[[File:Klingon script.gif|thumb|The Klingon written language]] |
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[[File:Klingon_Characters2.jpg|thumb|Klingon characters (Klingonese) on a terminal]] |
[[File:Klingon_Characters2.jpg|thumb|Klingon characters (Klingonese) on a terminal]] |
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'''Klingonese''' (also known more commonly as "'''Klingon'''") was the [[language]] used throughout the [[Klingon Empire]]. It was boasted that half the [[quadrant]] was learning the language by the mid-[[23rd century]]. ({{TOS|The Trouble with Tribbles}}) |
'''Klingonese''' (also known more commonly as "'''Klingon'''") was the [[language]] used throughout the [[Klingon Empire]]. It was boasted that half the [[quadrant]] was learning the language by the mid-[[23rd century]]. ({{TOS|The Trouble with Tribbles}}) |
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− | |||
⚫ | By the late-23rd century, several [[Federation]] authors wrote books on learning the [[Klingon]] language. [[Nyota Uhura|Uhura]] had several on hand aboard the ''Enterprise'' in [[2293]], when she had to convince a Klingon patrol post that they were the Klingon freighter ''[[Ursva]]'', including ''[[Introduction to Klingon Grammar]]''. ({{film|6}}) |
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⚫ | {{bginfo|Several of these books were seen in greater detail in the ''[[Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country (Special Edition)]]'' DVD special features.|[[Nichelle Nichols]] complained that with the Klingons as the Federation's primary enemy, a good communications officer would be able to speak at least basic Klingon. Director [[Nicholas Meyer]] preferred to keep the scene as it was, for "the laugh."}} |
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The Klingon language contained eighty poly-guttural dialects constructed on an adaptive syntax. The first [[Human]] to become fluent in it was [[Hoshi Sato]], who learned from a [[linguistic database]] provided by the [[Vulcan]]s. ({{ENT|Broken Bow}}) Sato once remarked that a book given to her by [[Tarquin]], written by a civilization over a thousand years dead, was in a language very similar to medieval Klingon. ({{ENT|Exile}}) |
The Klingon language contained eighty poly-guttural dialects constructed on an adaptive syntax. The first [[Human]] to become fluent in it was [[Hoshi Sato]], who learned from a [[linguistic database]] provided by the [[Vulcan]]s. ({{ENT|Broken Bow}}) Sato once remarked that a book given to her by [[Tarquin]], written by a civilization over a thousand years dead, was in a language very similar to medieval Klingon. ({{ENT|Exile}}) |
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The Klingon language was not an immutable language. It was constantly changing to meet the needs and aspirations of the people. In the mid-[[24th century]], the word ''peacemaker'' appeared for the first time in Klingonese after the negotiations mediated by [[Riva]] between the Klingon Empire and the [[United Federation of Planets]] took place. ({{TNG|Loud As A Whisper}}) However, as of the late 24th century, there still did not seem to be a Klingon word for ''jolly''. ({{TNG|Parallels}}) |
The Klingon language was not an immutable language. It was constantly changing to meet the needs and aspirations of the people. In the mid-[[24th century]], the word ''peacemaker'' appeared for the first time in Klingonese after the negotiations mediated by [[Riva]] between the Klingon Empire and the [[United Federation of Planets]] took place. ({{TNG|Loud As A Whisper}}) However, as of the late 24th century, there still did not seem to be a Klingon word for ''jolly''. ({{TNG|Parallels}}) |
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+ | |||
⚫ | By the late-23rd century, several [[Federation]] authors wrote books on learning the [[Klingon]] language. [[Nyota Uhura|Uhura]] had several on hand aboard the ''Enterprise'' in [[2293]], when she had to convince a Klingon patrol post that they were the Klingon freighter ''[[Ursva]]'', including ''[[Introduction to Klingon Grammar]]''. ({{film|6}}) |
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⚫ | {{bginfo|Several of these books were seen in greater detail in the ''[[Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country (Special Edition)]]'' DVD special features.|[[Nichelle Nichols]] complained that with the Klingons as the Federation's primary enemy, a good communications officer would be able to speak at least basic Klingon. Director [[Nicholas Meyer]] preferred to keep the scene as it was, for "the laugh."}} |
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+ | ''In the [[alternate reality]], {{alt|Nyota Uhura|Uhura}} described her mastery of Klingon as "rusty", but she appeared fluent enough to negotiate with members of the Klingon Defense Force.'' ({{film|12}}) |
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[[Montgomery Scott]] once stated that reading Klingon was hard compared to maintaining [[damage control]] aboard a [[Klingon Bird-of-Prey]]. ({{film|4}}) |
[[Montgomery Scott]] once stated that reading Klingon was hard compared to maintaining [[damage control]] aboard a [[Klingon Bird-of-Prey]]. ({{film|4}}) |
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The directory of the [[Promenade]] on [[Deep Space 9]] was written in Klingonese, as well as [[English language|English]], [[Vulcan language|Vulcan]], [[Ferengi language|Ferengi]], [[Bajoran language|Bajoran]], and [[Cardassian language|Cardassian]]. |
The directory of the [[Promenade]] on [[Deep Space 9]] was written in Klingonese, as well as [[English language|English]], [[Vulcan language|Vulcan]], [[Ferengi language|Ferengi]], [[Bajoran language|Bajoran]], and [[Cardassian language|Cardassian]]. |
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− | [[Kathryn Janeway]] stated to [[Arturis]] that, while Arturis could speak over 4,000 languages, she could barely speak basic Klingon. [[B'Elanna Torres]] stated that she found the language a little too robust for her taste. ({{VOY|Hope and Fear}}) |
+ | [[Kathryn Janeway]] stated to [[Arturis]] that, while Arturis could speak over 4,000 languages, she could barely speak basic Klingon. [[B'Elanna Torres]] stated that she found the language a little too robust for her taste. Despite being half-Klingon herself, she was only able to speak a few phrases of Klingonese. ({{VOY|Hope and Fear}}) |
In [[2374]], [[Alexander Rozhenko]] admitted to [[Miles O'Brien]] that he could barely even say his name in Klingon. ({{DS9|You Are Cordially Invited}}) |
In [[2374]], [[Alexander Rozhenko]] admitted to [[Miles O'Brien]] that he could barely even say his name in Klingon. ({{DS9|You Are Cordially Invited}}) |
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| a traditional knife used by Klingon assassins |
| a traditional knife used by Klingon assassins |
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| |
| |
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− | | {{TNG|Sins of the Father}} |
+ | | {{TNG|Sins of the Father}} {{VOY|Real Life}} |
⚫ | |||
⚫ | |||
⚫ | |||
+ | | Beautiful |
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+ | | |
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⚫ | |||
|- |
|- |
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| ''[[Mauk-to'Vor]]'' |
| ''[[Mauk-to'Vor]]'' |
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| {{TNG|The Defector}}, ''et al.'' |
| {{TNG|The Defector}}, ''et al.'' |
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|- |
|- |
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− | | ''Qapla''' |
+ | | ''<nowiki>Qapla'</nowiki>'' |
| success |
| success |
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| |
| |
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| |
| |
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| {{incite}} |
| {{incite}} |
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⚫ | |||
⚫ | |||
− | | whore |
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⚫ | |||
⚫ | |||
|- |
|- |
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| ''[[soh-chim]]'' |
| ''[[soh-chim]]'' |
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== Klingonese quotes == |
== Klingonese quotes == |
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− | ;bortaS bIr jablu'DI' reH QaQqu' nay': ''Revenge is a dish best served cold'' ({{film|2}}) |
+ | ;bortaS bIr jablu'DI' reH QaQqu' nay': ''Revenge is a dish best served cold'' or literally ''When revenge is served cold, the dish is very good'' ({{film|2}}) |
{{bginfo|Spoken by [[Khan Noonien Singh]].}} |
{{bginfo|Spoken by [[Khan Noonien Singh]].}} |
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One Klingon term used as an insult on numerous occasions was ''petaQ'' (also spelled "''Pahtak''", "''Pathak''", "''p'tahk''", "''p'takh''", "''patahk''", "''pahtk''", or "''p'tak''"). It was also used by the [[mirror universe cultures|Klingons]] of the [[mirror universe]]. |
One Klingon term used as an insult on numerous occasions was ''petaQ'' (also spelled "''Pahtak''", "''Pathak''", "''p'tahk''", "''p'takh''", "''patahk''", "''pahtk''", or "''p'tak''"). It was also used by the [[mirror universe cultures|Klingons]] of the [[mirror universe]]. |
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− | According to [[William T. Riker]], petaQ was a curse word. ({{TNG|The Defector}}) |
+ | According to [[William T. Riker]], petaQ was a [[Colorful metaphor|curse word]]. ({{TNG|The Defector}}) |
=== Usage === |
=== Usage === |
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+ | * When trapped in a ring of [[fire]] by an exposed well head for a [[deuterium pump]], [[Korok (Captain)|Korok]] called [[Tessic]] a ''petaQ''. ({{ENT|Marauders}}) |
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* [[Romulan]] [[Admiral]] [[Alidar Jarok]] asked [[Commander]] [[William T. Riker]] how he'd allow "a Klingon ''petaQ'' to walk around in a [[Starfleet]] [[uniform]]" referring to [[Worf]]. ({{TNG|The Defector}}) |
* [[Romulan]] [[Admiral]] [[Alidar Jarok]] asked [[Commander]] [[William T. Riker]] how he'd allow "a Klingon ''petaQ'' to walk around in a [[Starfleet]] [[uniform]]" referring to [[Worf]]. ({{TNG|The Defector}}) |
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* [[J'Dan]] called [[Worf]] a ''pahtak'' when he didn't want to help him escape with a [[shuttlecraft]]. ({{TNG|The Drumhead}}) |
* [[J'Dan]] called [[Worf]] a ''pahtak'' when he didn't want to help him escape with a [[shuttlecraft]]. ({{TNG|The Drumhead}}) |
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* B'Elanna Torres called [[Ensign]] [[Vorik]] a ''petaQ'' when they were both under the influence of Vorik's [[Pon farr]]. ({{VOY|Blood Fever}}) |
* B'Elanna Torres called [[Ensign]] [[Vorik]] a ''petaQ'' when they were both under the influence of Vorik's [[Pon farr]]. ({{VOY|Blood Fever}}) |
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* B'Elanna Torres called [[Tuvok]] a ''petaQ'' when during a vivid dream before discovering she was on her way to [[Gre'thor]]. ({{VOY|Barge of the Dead}}) |
* B'Elanna Torres called [[Tuvok]] a ''petaQ'' when during a vivid dream before discovering she was on her way to [[Gre'thor]]. ({{VOY|Barge of the Dead}}) |
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− | * The Doctor's holographic son, Jeffrey, called his father a ''petaQ'' when he tried to tell Jeffrey to stop hanging out with Klingons. ({{VOY|Real Life}}) |
+ | * The Doctor's holographic son, [[Jeffrey]], called his father a ''petaQ'' when he tried to tell Jeffrey to stop hanging out with Klingons. ({{VOY|Real Life}}) |
{{bginfo|As can be seen above, many different spellings of the word have appeared over the years. ''petaQ'' is the official Klingon spelling from [[Marc Okrand]]'s ''[[The Klingon Dictionary|Klingon Dictionary]]''.}} |
{{bginfo|As can be seen above, many different spellings of the word have appeared over the years. ''petaQ'' is the official Klingon spelling from [[Marc Okrand]]'s ''[[The Klingon Dictionary|Klingon Dictionary]]''.}} |
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* [[Montgomery Scott]] |
* [[Montgomery Scott]] |
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* [[Benjamin Sisko]] |
* [[Benjamin Sisko]] |
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+ | * ''{{alt|Nyota Uhura}}'' |
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== Appendices == |
== Appendices == |
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=== Background information === |
=== Background information === |
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− | The Klingon language was originally called "Klingonese" in the episode {{e|The Trouble with Tribbles}} (by [[Korax]]) and again in {{e|Looking for par'Mach in All the Wrong Places}} (by [[Quark]]). Most later episodes refer to the language simply as "Klingon," and non-canon names include Klingonaase and ''tlhIngan Hol''. Some people assert that [[Michael Pataki]] actually said "Klingoni" in "The Trouble with Tribbles", but this conflicts with the script and the ''[[Star Trek Encyclopedia]]''. |
+ | The Klingon language was originally called "Klingonese" in the episode {{e|The Trouble with Tribbles}} (by [[Korax]]) and again in {{e|Looking for par'Mach in All the Wrong Places}} (by [[Quark]]). Most later episodes refer to the language simply as "Klingon," and non-canon names include Klingonaase and ''tlhIngan Hol''. Some people assert that [[Michael Pataki]] actually said "Klingoni" in "The Trouble with Tribbles", possibly a result of his character's drunken state, but this conflicts with the script and the ''[[Star Trek Encyclopedia]]''. |
+ | The Klingon language was developed by [[James Doohan]] for {{film|1}}. Doohan, who had expertise with various dialects, became involved in developing the Klingon language after he had a discussion with [[Gene Roddenberry]] over lunch. Roddenberry had very recently hired a dialectician from the University of California, Los Angeles to devise some words for the Klingons. Decades later, Doohan remembered, "''[Roddenberry] didn't like what [the dialectician] created. I said, 'Well, I'll do it for you after lunch.' I was doing something close to Mongolian.''" At the time, Doohan told his co-workers, "''We have to cut out vowels as much as possible.''" ({{STM|80|16}}) |
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⚫ | The Klingon language was |
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⚫ | The Klingon language was expanded for {{film|3}} by [[Marc Okrand]], who enlarged the lexicon and created a grammar around the original dozen words Doohan had created. It has spawned several [[reference works]], beginning with ''[[The Klingon Dictionary]]''. [[Montgomery Scott|Scotty]] once remarked, "''reading Klingon, that's hard.''" ({{film|4}}) |
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⚫ | [[Michael Okuda]], who led the [[TNG]]-era art departments in creating Klingon language graphics, has admitted they are randomly arranged symbols, which he based on the small number of Klingon writings visible in [[TOS]] and the |
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+ | |||
⚫ | [[Michael Okuda]], who led the [[TNG]]-era art departments in creating Klingon language graphics, has admitted they are randomly arranged symbols, which he based on the small number of Klingon writings visible in [[TOS]] and the {{Star Trek films}}. These graphics and writings do not reflect any possible spellings or translations in what Okrand's non-[[canon]] works call ''pIqaD'', the native Klingon writing system. ''(NOTE: An unofficial guide to ''pIqaD'' is included on the box insert of the ''[[Star Trek Klingon Edition Monopoly]]'' game.)'' |
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==== Sounds ==== |
==== Sounds ==== |
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| '''ng''' |
| '''ng''' |
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| as in si'''ng''', never like the "ng" in fi'''ng'''er |
| as in si'''ng''', never like the "ng" in fi'''ng'''er |
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− | | '''''' |
+ | | ''''''<nowiki/>''''' |
| {{w|glottal stop}}, as in uh'''-'''oh or cockney bo'''(tt)'''le |
| {{w|glottal stop}}, as in uh'''-'''oh or cockney bo'''(tt)'''le |
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|} |
|} |
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|- |
|- |
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| Do you speak Klingon? |
| Do you speak Klingon? |
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− | | ''tlhIngan Hol Dajatlh'a''' |
+ | | ''<nowiki>tlhIngan Hol Dajatlh'a'</nowiki>'' |
|- |
|- |
||
| I don't speak Klingon. |
| I don't speak Klingon. |
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− | | ''tlhIngan Hol vIjatlhbe''' |
+ | | ''<nowiki>tlhIngan Hol vIjatlhbe'</nowiki>'' |
|- |
|- |
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| Do you speak English? |
| Do you speak English? |
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− | | ''DIvI' Hol Dajatlh'a''' |
+ | | ''<nowiki>DIvI' Hol Dajatlh'a'</nowiki>'' |
|- |
|- |
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| I understand. |
| I understand. |
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|- |
|- |
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| Buy or die! |
| Buy or die! |
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− | | ''bIje'be'chugh vaj bIHegh! |
+ | | ''bIje'be'chugh vaj bIHegh!'' |
|- |
|- |
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| Pay now! |
| Pay now! |
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|- |
|- |
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| Vulcan, Ferengi, Cardassian |
| Vulcan, Ferengi, Cardassian |
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− | | ''vulqangan'', ''verengan'', ''qarDaSngan'' |
+ | | ''vulqangan'', ''verengan'', ''qarDaSngan/qarDaSya'ngan'' |
|- |
|- |
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| Visual! |
| Visual! |
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Such departures from Okrand's version included the following: |
Such departures from Okrand's version included the following: |
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*The writers made up their own Klingon words: e.g ''kuva'magh'' or ''pfiots'', against Okrand's pronunciation rules of standard ''tlhIngan Hol'' |
*The writers made up their own Klingon words: e.g ''kuva'magh'' or ''pfiots'', against Okrand's pronunciation rules of standard ''tlhIngan Hol'' |
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− | *They used established Klingon words but in such a way that they were strung together without following Okrand's grammar rules, for example ''SoH batlh jI''' for "you honor me", even though this sentence means something like "I am a honor you are". The correct translation of "you honor me" would be ''choquvmoH'' or ''tuquvmoH'', depending on whether ''you'' referred to one person or multiple people. |
+ | *They used established Klingon words but in such a way that they were strung together without following Okrand's grammar rules, for example ''<nowiki>SoH batlh jI'</nowiki>'' for "you honor me", even though this sentence means something like "I am a honor you are". The correct translation of "you honor me" would be ''choquvmoH'' or ''tuquvmoH'', depending on whether ''you'' referred to one person or multiple people. |
*They gave new or extended meaning based on the English translation of a word, for example ''pu'DaH'' (pronounced poo-dakh) - phasers and ''cha'' (pronounced chah) - torpedoes, becomes ''pu'Dah dak cha'' (pronounced puh-dar dack chah) meaning photon torpedoes, when Okrand had already devised ' ''otlh cha''. |
*They gave new or extended meaning based on the English translation of a word, for example ''pu'DaH'' (pronounced poo-dakh) - phasers and ''cha'' (pronounced chah) - torpedoes, becomes ''pu'Dah dak cha'' (pronounced puh-dar dack chah) meaning photon torpedoes, when Okrand had already devised ' ''otlh cha''. |
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+ | *Okrand specified that Klingons do have any rituals for ending conversations, since courtesy was not part of their culture. A conversation simply ends when either participant leaves. However, ''<nowiki>qapla'</nowiki>'' ("success") is often used in dialog where English-speaking humans would say, "good-bye". |
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+ | |||
+ | ====Lyrics==== |
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+ | [[Composers]] have also used Klingon lyrics in their leitmotifs for the films. [[Cliff Eidelman]], who composed {{film|6}} used ''<nowiki>taH pagh taHbe'</nowiki>'', a translation of "to be or not to be", for the choral parts for the score on [[Rura Penthe]], in reference to [[Chang (General)|Chang]]'s love of [[William Shakespeare]]. [http://www.patheos.com/blogs/filmchat/2013/05/music-for-klingons-part-three-eidelman-giacchino.html] |
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+ | |||
+ | For {{film|12}}, music editor [[Alex Levy]] incorporated Klingon lyrics into [[Michael Giacchino]]'s score, mainly using Klingon insults to represent their fury at {{alt|James T. Kirk|Kirk}}'s intrusion of their planet. [http://www.wqxr.org/#!/programs/movies/2013/may/04/] |
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==== See also ==== |
==== See also ==== |
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=== Episodes in which Klingonese is spoken === |
=== Episodes in which Klingonese is spoken === |
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<div class="appear"> |
<div class="appear"> |
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− | * |
+ | * {{Star Trek films}} |
** {{film|1}} |
** {{film|1}} |
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** {{film|3}} (by [[Commander]] [[Kruge]] and crew) |
** {{film|3}} (by [[Commander]] [[Kruge]] and crew) |
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** {{film|9}} |
** {{film|9}} |
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** {{film|11}} (Deleted Scene, by the Klingon guards of [[Rura Penthe]]) |
** {{film|11}} (Deleted Scene, by the Klingon guards of [[Rura Penthe]]) |
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+ | ** {{film|12}} |
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* {{TNG}} |
* {{TNG}} |
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** {{e|The Icarus Factor}} |
** {{e|The Icarus Factor}} |
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* {{VOY}} |
* {{VOY}} |
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** {{e|Real Life}} (by [[Jeffrey]]) |
** {{e|Real Life}} (by [[Jeffrey]]) |
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+ | ** {{e|The Killing Game, Part II}} |
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** {{e|Hope and Fear}} (by [[Arturis]]) |
** {{e|Hope and Fear}} (by [[Arturis]]) |
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** {{e|Barge of the Dead}} |
** {{e|Barge of the Dead}} |
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=== External links === |
=== External links === |
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+ | * [http://wiki.qephom.de/En/ Klingon Language Wiki] The wiki to teach and learn Klingon |
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− | * [[w:c:klingon|The Klingon Encyclopedia]] |
+ | * [[w:c:klingon|The Klingon Encyclopedia]] (only in Klingon) |
* [[w:c:mughom:tlhIngan Hol mu'ghom:ghItlh'a'|The Klingon Dictionary]] |
* [[w:c:mughom:tlhIngan Hol mu'ghom:ghItlh'a'|The Klingon Dictionary]] |
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* [http://www.kli.org Klingon Language Institute] |
* [http://www.kli.org Klingon Language Institute] |
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* {{wikipedia|Klingon language}} |
* {{wikipedia|Klingon language}} |
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* {{NCwiki}} |
* {{NCwiki}} |
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− | * [http://www.google.com/intl/xx-klingon/ |
+ | * [http://www.google.com/intl/xx-klingon/ Google in Klingon] |
− | * [http://klingonska.org/ Klingon Academy |
+ | * [http://klingonska.org/ Klingonska Akademien] Swedish Klingon Academy |
[[de:Klingonische Sprache]] |
[[de:Klingonische Sprache]] |
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[[fr:Klingon (langue)]] |
[[fr:Klingon (langue)]] |
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[[sv:Klingonska]] |
[[sv:Klingonska]] |
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+ | [[eo:Klingonlingvo]] |
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[[Category:Klingonese| ]] |
[[Category:Klingonese| ]] |
Revision as of 15:55, 31 August 2014
Klingonese (also known more commonly as "Klingon") was the language used throughout the Klingon Empire. It was boasted that half the quadrant was learning the language by the mid-23rd century. (TOS: "The Trouble with Tribbles")
The Klingon language contained eighty poly-guttural dialects constructed on an adaptive syntax. The first Human to become fluent in it was Hoshi Sato, who learned from a linguistic database provided by the Vulcans. (ENT: "Broken Bow") Sato once remarked that a book given to her by Tarquin, written by a civilization over a thousand years dead, was in a language very similar to medieval Klingon. (ENT: "Exile")
The Klingon language was not an immutable language. It was constantly changing to meet the needs and aspirations of the people. In the mid-24th century, the word peacemaker appeared for the first time in Klingonese after the negotiations mediated by Riva between the Klingon Empire and the United Federation of Planets took place. (TNG: "Loud As A Whisper") However, as of the late 24th century, there still did not seem to be a Klingon word for jolly. (TNG: "Parallels")
By the late-23rd century, several Federation authors wrote books on learning the Klingon language. Uhura had several on hand aboard the Enterprise in 2293, when she had to convince a Klingon patrol post that they were the Klingon freighter Ursva, including Introduction to Klingon Grammar. (Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country)
In the alternate reality, Uhura described her mastery of Klingon as "rusty", but she appeared fluent enough to negotiate with members of the Klingon Defense Force. (Star Trek Into Darkness)
Montgomery Scott once stated that reading Klingon was hard compared to maintaining damage control aboard a Klingon Bird-of-Prey. (Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home)
The directory of the Promenade on Deep Space 9 was written in Klingonese, as well as English, Vulcan, Ferengi, Bajoran, and Cardassian.
Kathryn Janeway stated to Arturis that, while Arturis could speak over 4,000 languages, she could barely speak basic Klingon. B'Elanna Torres stated that she found the language a little too robust for her taste. Despite being half-Klingon herself, she was only able to speak a few phrases of Klingonese. (VOY: "Hope and Fear")
In 2374, Alexander Rozhenko admitted to Miles O'Brien that he could barely even say his name in Klingon. (DS9: "You Are Cordially Invited")
Klingon vocabulary
Word | Meaning | Usage | Source |
---|---|---|---|
adanji | a type of incense used only for Mauk-to'Vor | DS9: "Sons of Mogh" | |
baH | fire! (as in torpedoes, disruptors, etc.) | Star Trek: The Motion Picture | |
baktag | an insult | TNG: "Redemption II" | |
bat'leth | sword of honor; a two-handed sword-like Klingon melee weapon | TNG: "Reunion" | |
Bekk | an enlisted rank in the Klingon Defense Force | DS9: "Sons and Daughters" | |
d'akturak | ice-man | DS9: "Blood Oath" | |
D'blok | an insult
It is unclear what exactly d'blok means.
|
In 2372 Chancellor Gowron compared Worf to a mute d'blok, when Worf didn't answer Gowron's offer to come with him to Cardassia Prime, immediately. | DS9: "The Way of the Warrior" |
d'k tahg | a traditional Klingon warrior's knife | Star Trek III: The Search for Spock | |
Fek'lhr | the demonic guard of Gre'thor, according to Klingon mythology | TNG: "Devil's Due" | |
gik'tal | to the death | TNG: "Lower Decks" | |
Gre'thor | the mythological place where souls of the dishonored go after death | TNG: "Devil's Due" | |
he'ymar | energize (voice command to transporter activation) | DS9: "Past Prologue" | |
hur'q | outsider | DS9: "The Sword of Kahless" | |
jak'tahla | Klingon time of adolescence | Star Trek: Insurrection | |
jat'yIn | spiritual possession, lit. "the taking of the living by the dead" | TNG: "Power Play" | |
jinaq | a pendant given to a young Klingon female old enough to take a mate. | TNG: "Birthright, Part II" | |
Jelik | a word, phrase, name, place, or event mentioned by Klaang to Hoshi Sato in 2151; along with Sarin, Rigel, and Tholia, Sato could not translate the word or understand its meaning | (ENT: "Broken Bow") | |
kellicam | a Klingon measurement of distance | Star Trek III: The Search for Spock | |
Kortar | in Klingon mythology, the first Klingon created by the gods and who destroyed them | VOY: "Barge of the Dead" | |
kos'karii | pale, serpent-like creatures from Klingon mythology, who roam the waters of the underworld | VOY: "Barge of the Dead" | |
kut'luch | a traditional knife used by Klingon assassins | TNG: "Sins of the Father" VOY: "Real Life" | |
Kyamo | Beautiful | DS9: "Blood Oath" | |
Mauk-to'Vor | a ritual in which one kills a wrongfully disgraced sibling to restore their honor in Sto-vo-kor | DS9: "Sons of Mogh" | |
mek'leth | a Klingon blade weapon | DS9: "The Way of the Warrior" | |
mevak | a traditional knife used for Mauk-to'Vor | DS9: "Sons of Mogh" | |
Mok'tah | bad match | VOY: "Drive" | |
nIb'poH | déjà vu | TNG: "Cause and Effect" | |
Nuq'nuh | A traditional greeting. | DS9: "Once More Unto the Breach" | |
par'Mach | love, but with more aggressive or violent undertones | DS9: "Looking for par'Mach in All the Wrong Places" | |
petaQ | an insult | See below | TNG: "The Defector", et al. |
Qapla' | success | Star Trek III: The Search for Spock | |
qhonDoq | a type of assassin's blade | TNG: "Sins of the Father" | |
Qui'Tu | the place where all life began, according to Klingon mythology | Star Trek V: The Final Frontier | |
shuVak | a servant | DS9: "Once More Unto the Breach" | |
Soch | the number seven | (citation needed • edit) | |
soh-chim | step-sibling, god parent (roughly); legal guardian assigned by a Klingon warrior prior to battle | TNG: "Parallels" | |
Sto-vo-kor | the afterlife of the honored dead, where Kahless the Unforgettable resides | TNG: "Rightful Heir" | |
Suvwl' | Warrior | TNG: "The Icarus Factor"TNG: "Redemption" | |
taHqeq | a being known for telling lies; used as an insult when questioning another's honesty | TNG: "The Mind's Eye" | |
tohzah | an insult | TNG: "The Defector" | |
toruk-doh | an insult | DS9: "You Are Cordially Invited" | |
tajtiq | a long Klingon knife, usually used in pairs | DS9: "Apocalypse Rising" | |
yan | a sword | TNG: "Redemption"; DS9: "Apocalypse Rising" |
Klingonese quotes
- bortaS bIr jablu'DI' reH QaQqu' nay'
- Revenge is a dish best served cold or literally When revenge is served cold, the dish is very good (Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan)
- bangwI'
- "My beloved"
- matlh! jol yIchu'!
- "Maltz! Activate beam!" (Star Trek III: The Search for Spock)
- taH pagh taHbe'
- to be or not to be (Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country)
- nuqneH, qaleghneS
- What do you want? I am honored to see you (TNG: "The Emissary")
- naDev ghoS
- come here (TNG: "Redemption")
- jIlajneS. ghIj qet jaghmeyjaj
- "I accept [with honor]. May your enemies run with fear" (TNG: "Redemption")
A drinking song:
- 'ej HumtaH 'ej DechtaH 'Iw
- And the blood was ankle deep
- 'ej Doq SoDtaH ghoSpa' Sqral bIQtIq
- And the River Skral ran crimson red
- 'e' pa' jaj law' mo' jaj puS
- On the day above all days
- jaj qeylIS molar mIgh HoHchu'qu'
- When Kahless slew evil Molor dead (DS9: "The Way of the Warrior"; VOY: "Barge of the Dead")
- 'ej ngIb Saw', vI', Dech je 'Iw;
- 'ej Doq, SoDtaH, ghoStaH SIQal bIQtIq;
- ngugh, jaj nIv law' Hoch nIv puS,
- molor mIgh HoHchu'qu'DI' qeylIS.
- Mok'Ta vor, kash a'VEH
- You are an enemy of my House (DS9: "You Are Cordially Invited")
- wIy cha'
- show tactical display (Star Trek: The Motion Picture)
- SoHvaD pagh vIjatlh, Human!
- I have nothing to say to you, Human!
- 'ay'vamDaq nuHmey tIQeq
- target weapons on this section (ENT: "Affliction")
- quv lughaj Archer HoD beqDaj je
- Captain Archer and his crew are honorable people (ENT: "The Augments")
- maj ram
- "Good night", as said by both Jadzia Dax and Kor as the former headed for bed. (DS9: "The Sword of Kahless")
- Du'cha
- In 2371, the USS Enterprise-D arrived at Veridian III and hailed the cloaked Bird-of-Prey used by Lursa and B'Etor. A Klingon officer told B'Etor of the Enterprise's hailing, but B'Etor responded with "Du'cha. We're still cloaked. They can't see us." (Star Trek Generations)
petaQ
One Klingon term used as an insult on numerous occasions was petaQ (also spelled "Pahtak", "Pathak", "p'tahk", "p'takh", "patahk", "pahtk", or "p'tak"). It was also used by the Klingons of the mirror universe.
According to William T. Riker, petaQ was a curse word. (TNG: "The Defector")
Usage
- When trapped in a ring of fire by an exposed well head for a deuterium pump, Korok called Tessic a petaQ. (ENT: "Marauders")
- Romulan Admiral Alidar Jarok asked Commander William T. Riker how he'd allow "a Klingon petaQ to walk around in a Starfleet uniform" referring to Worf. (TNG: "The Defector")
- J'Dan called Worf a pahtak when he didn't want to help him escape with a shuttlecraft. (TNG: "The Drumhead")
- Klingon Chancellor Gowron told Captain Jean-Luc Picard that the former was "referring to the filthy patahk who's using his name" when discussing the Clone of Kahless. (TNG: "Rightful Heir")
- A Klingon officer aboard the Duras sisters' Bird-of-Prey called Tolian Soran a petaq when the El-Aurian returned to the bridge of the vessel after torturing Geordi La Forge. (Star Trek Generations)
- Governor Torak replied to Lt. Worf calling him a lo'Be Vos: " At least I do not wear the uniform of the P'tak! " (TNG: "Aquiel")
- After Quark mentioned D'Ghor, Tumek told him "that pahtak's name is not spoken in this House". (DS9: "The House of Quark")
- Morka called several Romulans in Quark's "filthy pahtaks" in 2371. (DS9: "Visionary")
- Kor called Worf a "traitorous p'tak" when he believed he was going to steal the Sword of Kahless from him. (DS9: "The Sword of Kahless")
- In 2372 in the mirror universe, Regent Worf called Garak "the p'tak who lost Terok Nor to the rebels". (DS9: "Shattered Mirror")
- Worf called a Dopterian a p'tak after he discovered the alien had broken into his quarters and had stolen several items belonging to him. (DS9: "Bar Association")
- A Klingon stationed on Deep Space 9 called Laas a p'tak after the Changeling told him his hands would have a stench on them if they were "stained with the blood of Klingon warriors", as the Klingon had told him. (DS9: "Chimera")
- After The Doctor added a "daydream" subroutine to his program, and started malfunctioning, B'Elanna Torres reminded him of an old Klingon saying while she was trying to fix it: "A Doctor that operates on himself has a pa'taQ for a patient." (VOY: "Tinker Tenor Doctor Spy")
- The fully-Klingon B'Elanna Torres called her separated fully-Human self a petaQ several times after rescuing her Human counterpart from a Vidiian prison barracks. (VOY: "Faces")
- B'Elanna Torres used to call Max Burke pahtk while they were attending Starfleet Academy. (VOY: "Equinox")
- B'Elanna Torres called Ensign Vorik a petaQ when they were both under the influence of Vorik's Pon farr. (VOY: "Blood Fever")
- B'Elanna Torres called Tuvok a petaQ when during a vivid dream before discovering she was on her way to Gre'thor. (VOY: "Barge of the Dead")
- The Doctor's holographic son, Jeffrey, called his father a petaQ when he tried to tell Jeffrey to stop hanging out with Klingons. (VOY: "Real Life")
Non-Klingon speakers of Klingonese
- Arturis
- Curzon Dax
- Ezri Dax
- Jadzia Dax
- Emergency Medical Hologram
- Sito Jaxa
- Flaherty
- Elim Garak
- Kathryn Janeway
- James T. Kirk
- Melora Pazlar
- Jean-Luc Picard
- Quark
- William T. Riker
- Hoshi Sato
- Montgomery Scott
- Benjamin Sisko
- Nyota Uhura
Appendices
Background information
The Klingon language was originally called "Klingonese" in the episode "The Trouble with Tribbles" (by Korax) and again in "Looking for par'Mach in All the Wrong Places" (by Quark). Most later episodes refer to the language simply as "Klingon," and non-canon names include Klingonaase and tlhIngan Hol. Some people assert that Michael Pataki actually said "Klingoni" in "The Trouble with Tribbles", possibly a result of his character's drunken state, but this conflicts with the script and the Star Trek Encyclopedia.
The Klingon language was developed by James Doohan for Star Trek: The Motion Picture. Doohan, who had expertise with various dialects, became involved in developing the Klingon language after he had a discussion with Gene Roddenberry over lunch. Roddenberry had very recently hired a dialectician from the University of California, Los Angeles to devise some words for the Klingons. Decades later, Doohan remembered, "[Roddenberry] didn't like what [the dialectician] created. I said, 'Well, I'll do it for you after lunch.' I was doing something close to Mongolian." At the time, Doohan told his co-workers, "We have to cut out vowels as much as possible." (Star Trek Monthly issue 80, p. 16)
The Klingon language was expanded for Star Trek III: The Search for Spock by Marc Okrand, who enlarged the lexicon and created a grammar around the original dozen words Doohan had created. It has spawned several reference works, beginning with The Klingon Dictionary. Scotty once remarked, "reading Klingon, that's hard." (Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home)
Michael Okuda, who led the TNG-era art departments in creating Klingon language graphics, has admitted they are randomly arranged symbols, which he based on the small number of Klingon writings visible in TOS and the Star Trek films. These graphics and writings do not reflect any possible spellings or translations in what Okrand's non-canon works call pIqaD, the native Klingon writing system. (NOTE: An unofficial guide to pIqaD is included on the box insert of the Star Trek Klingon Edition Monopoly game.)
Sounds
The sounds of the Klingon language as developed by Marc Okrand are harsh and guttural. This transliteration system was used in preparing scripts and phrases when Okrand supplied dialog and coached pronunciation.
Below is a table providing a rough guide on how to pronounce Klingon and the standard transliteration of the sounds of Klingon. Please note that this table corresponds to the sounds of the standard dialect used when Okrand created the language; other writers have introduced other sounds and concepts into the language.
Letter | Sound | Letter | Sound |
---|---|---|---|
a | as in father or balm | o | as in go or close |
b | as in ball; in some dialects it is pronounced mb as in amber or m as in mess | p | as in pass |
ch | as in chess | q | similar to "k" but pronounced further back in the throat |
D | as in dead but with the tongue rolled further back; also like "nd" or "n" in some dialects | Q | pronounced like q but choked, a very raspy sound, very forceful,very similar to the initial "cr" phoneme in croissant. |
e | as in bed | r | as in rotary, but trilled |
gh | similar to "g" but softly gargled, sounds a bit like the French "r" | S | half-way between "s" and "sh", like "s" but with the tongue rolled back |
H | as in Scottish loch or German Bach | t | as in tops |
I | as in in or lift | tlh | like tl in bottle or Aztec tetl |
j | as in jump | u | as in snooze but shorter |
l | as in land | v | as in valve |
m | as in mole | w | as in walker or where |
n | as in nostril | y | as in young |
ng | as in sing, never like the "ng" in finger | ' | glottal stop, as in uh-oh or cockney bo(tt)le |
Basic phrases
Below is a short list of some useful basic phrases in the tlhIngan Hol dialect, the most commonly-heard dialect used in the Empire.
English (Human Hol, DIvI' Hol) | Klingonese (tlhIngan Hol) |
---|---|
Do you speak Klingon? | tlhIngan Hol Dajatlh'a' |
I don't speak Klingon. | tlhIngan Hol vIjatlhbe' |
Do you speak English? | DIvI' Hol Dajatlh'a' |
I understand. | jIyaj |
Beam me aboard! | HIjol |
Fire thrusters! | chuyDaH |
Buy or die! | bIje'be'chugh vaj bIHegh! |
Pay now! | DaH yIDIl |
I am a ... | ... jIH |
Klingon, Romulan, Human | tlhIngan, romuluSngan, tera'ngan |
Vulcan, Ferengi, Cardassian | vulqangan, verengan, qarDaSngan/qarDaSya'ngan |
Visual! | HaSta |
Ready torpedoes! | cha yIghuS |
Ready... | 'eHHH... |
Evasive! | juntaH! |
Surrender or die! | bIjeghbe'chugh vaj bIHegh! |
It is a good day to die! | Heghlu'meH QaQ jajvam |
Inconsistencies
The tlhIngan Hol dialect is featured most prominently in the Star Trek movies and intermittently in the series. Some writers on the television series followed The Klingon Dictionary fairly closely, while others did not. Klingonese at StarTrek.com Ronald D. Moore, noted for his major contributions to developing the Klingon culture, commented "Whether or not we use the language as spelled out in Marc's dictionary is up to the individual writer. I personally find the dictionary cumbersome and usually find it easier to make it up phonetically." (AOL chat, 1997) Marc Okrand noted that despite these departures, "[A]ny Klingon spoken during TNG counts as legitimate Klingon, whether I made it up or not, and I've incorporated all of it into the language." Klingonese at StarTrek.com
Such departures from Okrand's version included the following:
- The writers made up their own Klingon words: e.g kuva'magh or pfiots, against Okrand's pronunciation rules of standard tlhIngan Hol
- They used established Klingon words but in such a way that they were strung together without following Okrand's grammar rules, for example SoH batlh jI' for "you honor me", even though this sentence means something like "I am a honor you are". The correct translation of "you honor me" would be choquvmoH or tuquvmoH, depending on whether you referred to one person or multiple people.
- They gave new or extended meaning based on the English translation of a word, for example pu'DaH (pronounced poo-dakh) - phasers and cha (pronounced chah) - torpedoes, becomes pu'Dah dak cha (pronounced puh-dar dack chah) meaning photon torpedoes, when Okrand had already devised ' otlh cha.
- Okrand specified that Klingons do have any rituals for ending conversations, since courtesy was not part of their culture. A conversation simply ends when either participant leaves. However, qapla' ("success") is often used in dialog where English-speaking humans would say, "good-bye".
Lyrics
Composers have also used Klingon lyrics in their leitmotifs for the films. Cliff Eidelman, who composed Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country used taH pagh taHbe', a translation of "to be or not to be", for the choral parts for the score on Rura Penthe, in reference to Chang's love of William Shakespeare. [1]
For Star Trek Into Darkness, music editor Alex Levy incorporated Klingon lyrics into Michael Giacchino's score, mainly using Klingon insults to represent their fury at Kirk's intrusion of their planet. [2]
See also
Episodes in which Klingonese is spoken
- Star Trek films
- Star Trek: The Motion Picture
- Star Trek III: The Search for Spock (by Commander Kruge and crew)
- Star Trek V: The Final Frontier
- Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country
- Star Trek: Insurrection
- Star Trek (Deleted Scene, by the Klingon guards of Rura Penthe)
- Star Trek Into Darkness
- TNG:
- "The Icarus Factor"
- "Reunion"
- "The Mind's Eye"
- "Redemption"
- "Cause and Effect"
- "Birthright, Part II" (sung by the Klingons in the Romulan prison camp after Worf returns from "the hunt")
- "Rightful Heir"
- "Parallels" (by the USS Enterprise-D bridge crew, at Worf's birthday party)
- "Lower Decks"
- DS9:
- VOY:
- "Real Life" (by Jeffrey)
- "The Killing Game, Part II"
- "Hope and Fear" (by Arturis)
- "Barge of the Dead"
- "Dragon's Teeth"
- "Endgame" (by Miral Paris)
- ENT:
- "Broken Bow" (by Klaang, Hoshi Sato and the leader of the Klingon High Council)
- "Sleeping Dogs"
- "Observer Effect" (by Hoshi Sato)
- "Affliction" (by the unnamed Klingon prisoner)
External links
- Klingon Language Wiki The wiki to teach and learn Klingon
- The Klingon Encyclopedia (only in Klingon)
- The Klingon Dictionary
- Klingon Language Institute
- Klingon language at Wikipedia
- Template:NCwiki
- Google in Klingon
- Klingonska Akademien Swedish Klingon Academy