Comparatives and superlatives

The idea of something being more or greater than something else (comparative) is expressed by means of a construction which can be represented by the following formula:

 

A Q law’ B Q puS

In this formula, A and B are the two things being compared and Q is the quality which is being measured. The two Klingon words in the formula are law’ be many and puS be few. Thus, it says A’s Q is many, B’s Q is few or A has more Q than B has or A is Q-er than B.

Any verb expressing a quality or condition may fit into the Q slot.

 

la’ jaq law’ yaS jaq puS The commander is bolder than the officer. (la’ commander, jaq be bold, yaS officer)

To express the superlative, that something is the most or the greatest of all, the noun Hoch all is used in the B position:

 

la’ jaq law’ Hoch jaq puS The commander is boldest of all.

In comparative and superlative constructions, the verb of quality (jaq be bold in the sentences above) must be said twice.

 

 

CLIPPED KLINGON

The preceding grammatical sketch describes “proper” Klingon, that is, Klingon as it is taught in Klingon schools or to non-Klingons. In actual day-to-day use, however, spoken Klingon may vary somewhat from its “proper” form, usually by leaving some elements out. This abbreviated form of speaking, called Clipped Klingon by Klingon grammarians, is heard quite frequently in military contexts where quick—rather than eloquent—communication is deemed a virtue. Probably for similar reasons, Clipped Klingon is used quite extensively in all walks of Klingon life.

 

Some of the features of Clipped Klingon are described below.

 

Commands

In giving commands, the imperative prefix (section 4.1.2) may be left off, leaving the bare verb.

 

Proper Klingon: yIbaH Fire (the torpedoes)!

  Clipped Klingon: baH

Proper Klingon: wIy yIcha’ Show the tactical display!

  Clipped Klingon: wIy cha’ (wIy tactical display on monitor, cha’ show, project)

Proper Klingon: He chu’ yIghoS Follow a new course! Clipped Klingon: He chu’ ghoS (He course, chu’ be new, ghoS follow a course)

When the object noun is critical, and what is to be done with that noun is obvious (or should be obvious) to the listener, that noun itself may serve as the command.

 

Proper Klingon: chuyDaH yIlaQ Fire the thrusters!

Clipped Klingon: chuyDaH Thrusters! (chuyDaH thrusters, laQ fire, energize)

Proper Klingon: HaSta yIcha’ Show the visual display!

Clipped Klingon: HaSta Visual (display)! (HaSta visual display on monitor, cha’ show, project)

Finally, other grammatical markers, particularly noun suffixes, may be left out of commands.

 

Proper Klingon: jolpa’Daq yIjaH Go to the transport room!

Clipped Klingon: jolpa’ yIjaH (jolpa’ transport room, -Daq locative, jaH go)

It is not common, when noun suffixes are chopped, for the imperative prefix on the verb to be dropped as well.

 

Responses to commands, status reports

Responses to commands and status reports are also prone to clipping.

 

Proper Klingon: So’wI’ vIchu’ta’ I have engaged the cloaking device.

Proper Klingon: So’wI’ chu’lu’ta’ The cloaking de- vice has been engaged.

Clipped Klingon: So’wI’ chu’ta’ Cloaking device engaged. (So’wI’ cloaking device, vIchu’ta’ I have engaged it, chu’lu’ta’ it has been engaged)

In the preceding example, the clipped form can correspond to either a dropping of the prefix vI- I–it or the suffix -lu’ indefinite subject.

Proper Klingon: jIyajchu’ I understand clearly.

Clipped Klingon: yajchu’ Understood clearly. (yaj understand, -chu’ clearly, perfectly)

In this final example, the clipped form, lacking the pronominal prefix jI- I, is a likely response to a question in clipped form, such as yaj’a’ Understood? (compare Proper Klingon bIyaj’a’ Do you understand?).

Duress, excitement

When in a situation of great danger or when immediate action may be necessary, a Klingon is apt to drop pronominal prefixes. This clipped form is also common when a Klingon is excited for some reason.

 

Proper Klingon: qama’pu’ vIjonta’ vIneH I wanted to capture prisoners.

Clipped Klingon: qama’pu’ jonta’ neH Wanted prisoners! (qama’pu’ prisoners, vIjonta’ I captured them, vIneH I want them)

In context, it would be clear that the speaker is the one doing the wanting (and capturing), even though the pronominal prefix vI- –them is missing.

 

 

DICTIONARY

INTRODUCTORY REMARKS

The dictionary contains four parts: (1) Klingon to English, (2) English to Klingon, (3) list of affixes in Klingon alphabetical order, (4) list of affixes in English alphabetical order.

 

Klingon alphabetical order is as follows: