[Tlhingan-hol] Klingon Word of the Day: QI'

[Steven Boozer]

> Klingon Word of the Day for Sunday, November 18, 2012
> 
> Klingon word: QI'
> Part of speech: noun
> Definition: military
> Source: TKD (104 KE, 142 EK)

Qov, HQ 13.3 (p.14):  When asked to speak Klingon, [Okrand] often says, {QI' peghmey vI'angQo'} which means "I refuse to reveal military secrets".

MO, via Qov (8/2012):  On another topic, Maltz thought it was interesting that the verb in the sample sentence [?{DaHjaj may'Duj lumutlhta' tlhIngan QI'}] began with the prefix {lu-}.  He would have used no prefix, assuming that {QI'} referred to the military establishment in general. On the other hand, if it's expressing that several distinct Klingon military organizations or branches collaborated in the effort, the {lu-} makes sense.

Cultural notes:

KGT 51:  The entirety of a government's military apparatus is its {QI'}, usually translated simply as "military". The word is rather general in that it may apply to a nongovernmental military organization as well, such as that of a group of rebels. Though many Klingons themselves are apt to describe the Federation's Starfleet as a type of {QI'}, this is not really an appropriate use of the term, since {QI'} refers to the military only, while the functions of Starfleet are scientific and diplomatic as well. This misapplication of the term may, in part, be responsible for the frequent misunderstandings between the Federation and the Empire. The official Klingon {QI'} is the Klingon Defense Force, or {tlhIngan Hubbeq}, which is run by the Klingon High Command, or {tlhIngan ra'ghomquv}. The Defense Force is subdivided into units known as {yo'} and {nawlogh}, traditionally translated as "fleet" and "squadron", respectively, but the relationship between the two is not straightforward in terms of chain of command.

KGT 38:  The Klingon military, of course, has a hierarchical structure of its own, with ranks and areas of authority spelled out explicitly. Various fleets and squadrons are loyal to various houses, though, as might be expected, the details of these alliances are subject to change. Within the Klingon Defense Force ({tlhIngan Hubbeq}), which includes the entire Klingon military apparatus, the highest officers tend to be members of influential houses, particularly the members of the ultimate military authority, the High Command ({ra'ghomquv}). It is possible, however, for anyone to rise to higher ranks in the military and, thereby, higher levels in society in general, through particularly heroic actions in combat.

Related words:

QI'lop  	holiday honoring the Klingon military (PK)


--
Voragh
Ca'Non Master of the Klingons