[Tlhingan-hol] Klingon Word of the Day: qo'la' 'awje'

[Steven Boozer]

> Klingon word:   qo'la' 'awje'
> Part of speech: noun
> Definition:     cola (coke)

>From "TalkNow! Klingon".  Never used in a sentence.
 
  "A popular effervescent drink, black in color, is called {'awje'}. This is frequently, though not accurately, translated as 'root beer,' probably because of its superficial resemblance to the Federation soft drink, but it is made from, among other things, the marrow ({melchoQ}) taken from the bones of a {teghbat} (teg'bat). It is considered relatively mild, even for a Klingon nonalcoholic drink." (KGT 95)

  "I was surprised to learn that we were using {'awje'} incorrectly at the qep'a' [loSDIch]. It is not a general term for any non-potent drink, but is a specific beverage, that is similar in appearance to root beer. In fact, Okrand points out that there is no single all purpose word for soft drink." (SuSvaj)

  "Okrand was quick to point out that this was not a literal translation, but rather more of a generic term for a nonpotent beverage, one which occurs in Klingon proverbs and was probably what Worf meant when remarking that you cannot pry secrets out of someone with root beer." (Lawrence M. Schoen on KGT, HQ 6.2: 20)


--
Voragh
Ca'Non Master of the Klingons