[Tlhingan-hol] toe (and finger) verbs

[mayql qunenoS]

thank you Ca'non master ! finally I understand why we have the finger verbs.

mIv Hurgh qunnoq HoD

On Mon, Mar 7, 2016 at 5:14 PM, Steven Boozer <sboozer at uchicago.edu> wrote:
> From: mayql qunenoS:
>> there are two word groups I cannot understand, as far as the need for
>> their existence is concerned:
>> [...]
>> 2. to use the whatever toe.
>
> (HQ 10.2:10):  A foot has {vagh yaDDu'} "five toes", and each toe has two words, a noun and a verb, associated with it. Klingon toes have more dexterity than human toes, though not as much as Klingon or human fingers. To a degree surprising to humans, Klingons can control each toe independently... The verbs are used in the same way the finger verbs are used, though, except for when talking about martial arts movements and certain positions in Klingon classical ballet (never performed with shoes or boots), the verbs are not heard very often and are, in fact, considered archaic.
>
> These toe verbs/names are: {mar} use the big (first) toe, {Hom} use the second toe, {roS} use the third toe, {nan} use the fourth toe and {Qay'} use the little toe.  E.g.
>
>   nujDajDaq mar'egh ghu
>   the baby sucks its big toe. (HQ 10.2)
>
>   DungDaq Hom
>   point upwards with the second toe. (HQ 10.2)
>
>   rav Qay'
>   touch the floor with the little toe. (HQ 10.2)
>
>   jaghwI'Daq jIHom
>   I use (my) second toe at my enemy
>   (IDIOM: I claim my enemy is unworthy or weak) (HQ 10.2)
>
> ["The gesture itself is most likely to come up during ritualized martial arts combat (which, incidentally, is often a part of Klingon ballet)." (HQ 10.2:11)]
>
> (HQ 10.2:10-11):  {roS} "use the third toe" is phonetically identical to {roS} "lick" as well as the {roS} found in {roSHa'moH} "paralyze". The verb for paralyze consists of three elements: the verb {roS} (of unclear meaning), {-Ha'} undo, {-moH} cause. Thus it may be literally translated as "cause to no longer {roS}" or "cause to un-{roS}" or the like. A verb {roS} having anything to do with general mobility does not occur except in {roSHa'moH}. If the toe verb {roS} is the same verb, paralyze means cause to not use the third toe. Perhaps mobility of the third toe was associated somehow with mobility in general. Indeed, there is an idiomatic expression {pe'vIl roS} "he/she uses his/her third toe forcefully" which conveys the idea that he or she is particularly agile or nimble or spry. On the other hand, maybe the motions of the Klingon third toe look like a tongue licking.
>
> (HQ 10.2:11):  The verbs {nan} "use the fourth toe" and {nan} "gouge" are probably etymologically related, since nan is used to refer to a particularly effective martial arts kick.
>
> (HQ 10.2:11):  the phonetic identity of {Qay'} "use the little toe" and {Qay'} "blow one's top, lose one's temper" is probably not accidental, as evidenced by the idiomatic expression {'oy'qu' Qay'wI'wIj}, literally "my little toe aches a lot", which means "I'm extremely angry."
>
>
> The "finger verbs" - i.e. {Sen/rIl} use the thumb, {SIq} use the index finger, {qay} use the second finger, {qew} use the ring finger, {qan} use the pinkie - work the same way:
>
> (HQ 10.2:8)  The "finger verbs" are used when talking about specific ways of using a particular device (weapon, computer control panel, even musical instrument)
>
> (HQ 10.2:8)  The verb {Heng} "finger holes in a musical instrument" is a general term. When a specific finger is being referred to, one of the finger verbs is usually used...
>
> Okrand gives the examples:
>
>   SeHlaw SIq
>   touch the control panel with the index finger (HQ 10.2)
>
>   ghIchwIj vISIq
>   I touch my nose with my index finger  (HQ 10.2)
>
>   ghIchwIjDaq jISIq
>   I point at my nose with my index finger (HQ 10.2)
>
>   ghIchwIjDaq jISIq'egh
>   I pick my nose with my index finger
>   ("I use at myself my index finger at my nose") (HQ 10.2)
>
>   nujDajDaq rIl'egh ghu
>   the baby sucks its thumb
>   ("at his/her mouth, the baby uses at him/herself his/her thumb") (HQ 10.2)
>
>
>
> --
> Voragh
> tlhIngan ghantoH pIn'a'
> Ca'Non Master of the Klingons
>
>
>
>
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