[Tlhingan-hol] Story: ghuv = The Recruit - 23

[Robyn Stewart]

I think as an idiom it’s fair that it isn’t immediately interpretable without prior knowledge: that’s kind of the definition of an idiom. I also don’t have a problem with a verb of seeing being used with a corpse. I would say that the victim in the relevant scene in Silence of the Lambs, or even a decapitated body was lying “face up” or “face down” in English.

 

On the other hand, I said legh and the idiom is clearly bej, so I definitely need to correct that, even if ghunchu’wI’ knew what I meant. 

 

If it helps with the Romulan line, DungDaq legh 'ej QotnIStaH romuluSngan be'pu', it’s not so much “need to lie down” as “need to be lying down.”

 

-          Qov

 

From: ghunchu'wI' [mailto:qunchuy at alcaco.net] 
Sent: November 6, 2013 2:42 AM
To: tlhIngan-Hol
Subject: Re: [Tlhingan-hol] Story: ghuv = The Recruit - 23

 

On Nov 5, 2013, at 7:21 PM, "De'vID" <de.vid.jonpin at gmail.com> wrote:

On 11 Sep 2013 02:02, "Robyn Stewart" <robyn at flyingstart.ca> wrote:
> bIng bej/Dung bej = be face down/face up

I didn't understand the intended meaning, because I thought the Romulans were unconscious, and {bej} implied otherwise.

For what it's worth, I recognized the idiom immediately.

 

I don't know if its because I would have translated it the same way, or because I've seen it before and had to have it explained. Perhaps I was part of a discussion where some of us tried to translate the idea and that was one of the suggestions? I don't recall. Maybe Qov and I have just had enough face-to-face conversations in Klingon that I understand her intent and often anticipate her words. All I know is that the image was perfectly clear in my mind without requiring any overt analysis (or even any translation, as it happens).

 

-- ghunchu'wI'

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