[Tlhingan-hol] qo''e' tu'bogh pagh - 'ay' vagh

[De'vID jonpIn]

Another difficult segment of dialogue.

Last time, Kirk and Cartwright protested making peace with the
Klingons.  But their objections are overridden by the C in C and by
Spock:

SPOCK: ghorqon jInmol'a' wIlajnIS 'ej wInumnIS.  DaH mavangbe'chugh,
wo'Daj lupon Suvrupbogh SuvwI'pu'[1].  QI' tuH'a' chavtaHvIS Heghchugh
qaq ghu' 'e' lujatlh.[2]
C in C: SoH, *qIrq* HoD, rojmeH cha'nobmaj wa'DIch Damoj.
SPOCK: tera' ghoSmeH ghorqon Qang qengbogh tlhIngan Duj'e' wIghom 'e'
wISap, 'ej DIvI' loghDaq lengtaHvIS wIDor 'ej wIQan 'e' wISap.[3]
KIRK: *jIH*?
C in C: toH, tlhInganpu' lutu'lu', rojmab lubuSDI', SoH *Cartwright*
'aj je lIrur.  'ach 'entepray' Dara'bogh HIvpa', cha'logh qelmeH
yev[4].
SPOCK: Qu'vamvaD qanaDqu' jIH'e', HoD.
KIRK: SoH'e'... bInaDqu'.[5]
C in C: ghorqon QangvaD batlh bIgharnIS, HoD.[6]
KIRK: 'ach gharrupchu'meH Duy'a'na' nIv law' jIH--[7]
C in C: latlh potlh tu'be'lu'chugh... SoHDaq beqlIjDaq je vIbach:
Qapla'.[8]  be'pu' loDpu' je, jIvan[9].  peghqu' qepvam 'e' SaqawmoH.
CARTWRIGHT: qaHoy' pagh qaHoy'be', 'e' vISovbe'.
McCOY: jIHoy'be' jIH.
KIRK: maSappu''a'?
SPOCK: vulqangan vIttlhegh ngo' tu'lu': jungwoq ghoSlaH *nIqSen*[10] neH.
KIRK: chay' chonaDlaH?  bISovbejbe'mo'... bInguqlaw'.
SPOCK: maSutlhchoH 'e' tlhob vav--[11]
KIRK: vulqangan Duy'a' ghaH vavlI''e' 'e' vISovchu' jay'.  'ach vuDwIj
DaSov.  Ha'DIbaH chaH.
SPOCK: *jIym*, qunvaD 'eb potlhqu' tu'lu'.
KIRK: tIHarQo'.  tIvoqQo'.
SPOCK: HeghchoH.
KIRK: 'e' yIchaw'![12]  wej waQ toy' beqvam rIntaH[13] 'e' Daqel'a'?
batlh DevwI' wo' je DItoy'pu'.[14]  chovoqnISpu'.[15]

[1] - "more conservative elements" -- if anyone has any suggestions...!
[2] - How does {pon} work?  How do I say "to convince someone of something"?
[3] - I repeated {wISap} because Spock volunteered Kirk & co. for so
many things, and I think it doesn't sound as odd in Klingon to repeat
a verb to make things more clear.
[4] - "to think twice" is really an English idiom, so I avoided {Qub}
and used {qelmeH yev} instead.
[5] - I had to reverse the grammar a bit here to get the sense of the original.
[6] - Any ideas for "full diplomatic courtesy"?
[7] - I hate it when dialogue gets cut off in English, because the
Klingon grammar is backwards, so the wrong thing gets cut off.  {--
nIv puS} is cut off here, I hope that's obvious to people.
[8] - Since {mu'qaD} are {bach}ed, I assume good wishes/blessings are
the same way.
[9] - Both in the "salute" sense and the "bring this meeting to an
end" sense.  I didn't want to use {tlho'} because I don't think a
Klingon would say "thank you" at this point.
[10] - {nIqSen}?  {nIqSan}?  {nIQSen}?  What's a good approximation?
[11] - Again, cut off at the wrong point.
[12] - I think {'e'} is sufficient here, and there's no need to repeat
the verb {Hegh}.
[13] - Is this how {rIntaH} is used?  I forget.
[14] - "king and country"... is there an equivalent Klingon expression?
[15] - "should have"... {-nISpu'}?

> SPOCK: It is imperative that we act now to support the Gorkon
> initiative, lest more conservative elements persuade his Empire that
> it is better to attempt a military solution and die fighting.
> C in C: You, Captain Kirk, you are to be our first olive branch.
> SPOCK: We have volunteered to rendezvous with the Klingon vessel that
> is bringing Chancellor Gorkon to Earth, and to escort him safely
> through Federation space.
> KIRK: Me?
> C in C: Well, there are Klingons who feel the same way about the peace
> treaty as yourself and Admiral Cartwright. But they'll think twice
> about attacking the Enterprise under your command.
> SPOCK: I have personally vouched for you in this matter, Captain.
> KIRK: You ...have personally ...vouched?
> C in C: You will extend Chancellor Gorkon full diplomatic courtesy, Captain.
> KIRK: But a full Ambassador would be better equipped--
> C in C: If there's no further business ...I wish you and your crew
> Godspeed. Thank you ladies and gentlemen. ...I remind you this meeting
> is classified.
> CARTWRIGHT: I don't know whether to congratulate you or not, Jim.
> McCOY: I wouldn't!
> KIRK: We volunteered?
> SPOCK: There's an old Vulcan proverb. 'Only Nixon could go to China.'
> KIRK: How could you vouch for me? That's ...arrogant presumption.
> SPOCK: My father requested that I open negotia...
> KIRK: I know your father's the Vulcan Ambassador for heaven's sake,
> but you know how I feel about this. They're animals!
> SPOCK: Jim, there is an historic opportunity here.
> KIRK: Don't believe them! Don't trust them!
> SPOCK: They're dying.
> KIRK: Let them die! ...Has it occurred to you that this crew is due to
> stand down in three months? We've done our bit for King and Country.
> ...You should have trusted me.

--
De'vID