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

[Robyn Stewart]

The obscuration and revelation of the palm through movements of the fingers
is considered to be closing and opening the hand in English. If Klingons
open and close books, then I expect they open and close hands, too.  It's a
similar motion.

'a poS'a' ghIt 'ej SoQ'a' ro'? vISovbe'.

-----Original Message-----
From: Steven Boozer [mailto:sboozer at uchicago.edu] 
Sent: June 9, 2014 13:56
To: tlhingan-hol at kli.org
Subject: Re: [Tlhingan-hol] Klingon Word of the Day: poS

In English we also say "closed fist".  Is this the opposite of an "open
hand"?

--
Voragh
Ca'Non Master of the Klingons


> -----Original Message-----
> From: Robyn Stewart [mailto:robyn at flyingstart.ca]
> Sent: Monday, June 09, 2014 2:50 PM
> 
> The word "open" appears only in the English translation, so while it 
> is quite informative on the subject of the Klingon attitude towards an 
> open hand, and may address quljIb's thought, it doesn't give any 
> information on whether that hand can be considered poS.
> 
> - Qov
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Steven Boozer [mailto:sboozer at uchicago.edu]
> Sent: June 9, 2014 13:16
> 
> quljIb
> >> If {poS} can mean both "be open" and "left side" then it might make 
> >> sense for Klingons to extend an open, left hand, his {ghIt poS}, so 
> >> that he can still retain a grip on a weapon if needed.
> 
> Unless most Klingons are left-handed.
> 
> Qov:
> > Meanwhile I'm not sure what it would mean to a Klingon to have an
> "open"
> > hand.
> 
> There's a common simile which is informative:
> 
>   yuDHa'; ghIt rur
>   honest as an open hand KGT
>   honest as an ax head KGT
> 
> {ghIt} reminds Klingons of axes:
> 
> KGT 63:  The general term for ax is {'obmaQ}. Its handle is its {DeS} 
> and its blade is its {ghIt}. These words, {DeS} and {ghIt}, when 
> referring to humanoid anatomy, mean "arm" and "open, flat hand" (as 
> opposed to a fist [{ro'}]), respectively, suggesting that at one time 
> the ax was considered an extension of the warrior himself.
> 
> Note BTW that {ghIt} "open, flat hand" is not the same as {toch} "palm 
> (of hand)".  Some more hand imagery in Klingon:
> 
> KGT 69:  To challenge one to a duel to the death, one hits one's 
> adversary with the back of the hand ({chap}). If one is hitting 
> someone for some other reason, such as simple enjoyment, one uses the 
> fist ({ro'}).
> 
> {ro'lIj HI'ang} "Show me your fist!" is "an idiomatic expression used 
> to challenge someone to take action in a manner consistent with 
> something he or she has just said." (Cf. KGT 195.)
> 
> 
> --
> Voragh
> Ca'Non Master of the Klingons


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