[Tlhingan-hol] Klingon Word of the Day: jan

[Robyn Stewart]

I suspect that once context is established, jan is sufficient. After all, an 'instrument' in English can be musical, navigational, or indeed anyone or anything through which something is accomplished. 

On 2012-12-26, at 10:04, Steven Boozer <sboozer at uchicago.edu> wrote:

>> Klingon Word of the Day for Sunday, December 23, 2012
>> 
>> Klingon word:   jan
>> Part of speech: noun
>> Definition:     musical instrument
>> Source:         KGT
> 
> {jan} by itself is just a device, {QoQ jan} is a musical instrument:
> 
> KGT 74:  There are several types of Klingon musical instruments. Collectively, they are known as {QoQ jan} or {QoQ janmey} ... {QoQ}, as noted above, means "music"; {jan} is normally translated as "device" and is usually applied to some sort of sophisticated apparatus, but its use in {QoQ jan} may point to an earlier and less limited meaning, something like "implement". There are special words used to describe the various techniques employed in playing specific instruments, but the general term for "play a musical instrument" is {chu'}, which, when applied to technologically advanced devices, including weapons, means "activate". Indeed, out of context, {jan chu'} could mean either "activate the device" or "play the instrument", which may be why {QoQ jan} (musical instrument) is seldom shortened to simply {jan}.
> 
> qa'vam jan SeH DIvI'. 
> [The Federation controls the Genesis Device.] (ST3 DVD case)
> 
> qa'vam jan yISuq. 
> [Acquire the Genesis Device!] (ST3 DVD case)
> 
> janmey ngo' lulo'lu'DI' pIj jabbI'ID nISpu' woj 
> Older models were susceptible to radiation. S19
> 
> chaHvaD nIb yan wIjwI' jan je 
> They don't know how to distinguish a sword from a plough! PB
> 
> A {janHom} might be translated as "gadget, gizmo". Cf.:
> 
>  Qapqu' wovmoHbogh janHommey 
>  It even has working lights! (Hallmark)
> 
> Known types of {jan}:
> 
> botjan                shield(s) (i.e. force fields)
>  begh botjan              deflector shield(s) 
>  peQ botjan                magnetic shield
> baHjan                  launcher
>  peng baHjan              torpedo launcher 
> QoQ jan                musical instrument
> Saqjan                landing gear 
> wIjwI' jan              plough
> wovmoHbogh jan          light
> 
> Any more mentioned in the Haynes BOP Manual?
> 
> Related nouns:
> 
> jo'        machinery, mechanism
> mIqta'    machinery
> QuQ        engine
> jonta'    engine
> 
> 
> --
> Voragh
> Ca'Non Master of the Klingons
> 
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