master_q 0 Posted April 26, 2003 Want to speak Klingon? Make sure you spitLanguage hits final frontier as `Star Trek' cant gains cult status By Devin Smith Columbia News Service The most recent edition of the Oxford English Dictionary contains roughly 291,500 words. The dictionary's 20 volumes weigh 138 pounds, spread out over 21,730 pages. The Klingon Dictionary, on the other hand, weighs less than 2 pounds and includes fewer than 2,000 root entries. The book, which details the vocabulary of the bumpy-headed warrior race from Star Trek, has 191 pages and, most important, contains such relevant phrases as ``Activate the transporter beam'' (jol ylchu'). The Klingon language is not isolated to the realm of television and Hollywood. Thousands of Klingon linguists, who are known as Klingonists, in at least 50 countries and every continent (including Antarctica) study Klingon. They meet at Klingon Kamps and science fiction conferences, on the Internet (Google.com has a separate search site exclusively in Klingon) and in small groups around the world to discuss language and culture of Klingons. Sometimes they don Klingon uniforms, which feature thick black manes of hair; a broad forehead with lumpy lines, like a row of speed bumps; and some form of thin chain-mail armor. It's not uncommon for phasers or half-moon Klingon dueling swords (batl'eth) to show up. However, the Klingon Language Institute (KLI), a nonprofit organization that promotes the study and use of Klingon, eschews uniforms. ``We have nothing against people who like to dress up. Focusing on the language is just more intellectually rigorous,'' said founder Lawrence Schoen. ``Language is the best of both worlds because it's demanding, but you also get the warm fuzzies from being involved with Star Trek.'' During its annual conference (which, over the last 10 years has taken place in locations as diverse as Las Vegas, Philadelphia and Belgium), KLI offers Klingon proficiency exams to its 2,000 or so members. The organization (www.kli.org ) also offers a Klingon language course through the mail. Generally, new languages tend to develop as offshoots of existing tongues. For example, the Romance languages (French, Spanish, and Italian, among others) were each derived from Latin. Klingon, however, is difficult to master, in part because it doesn't fit into an established family of languages. Marc Okrand, the linguist who constructed the language in 1984 when Paramount Pictures called him to ``create realistic-sounding dialogue'' for Star Trek III: The Search for Spock, invented it without relying on existing vocabularies. In fact, owing to Klingon's unique grammar, sound patterns and diction, the government recently asked Schoen to give a presentation to military and civilian linguists at the National Security Agency. Aware of possible terrorist threats, the government was curious about the potential for al-Qaeda operatives to communicate through Klingon, similar to the way Allied troops used Navajo code talkers to coordinate attacks during World War II. Klingons communicate through a no-nonsense exchange of commands, which are articulated through spits, barks and hacks. They don't believe in pleasantries. There are no words for ``please'' or ``thank you.'' ``There's a lot of throat clearing,'' Schoen said. ``It sounds like coughing and spitting.'' In fact, the KLI cautions Klingonists that ``some of the sounds may make the person you're talking to a little wet. This is correct and to be expected.'' Accusing a Klingon of having a mother with a smooth forehead (Hab SoSlI' Quch!) is considered a particularly abusive comment. Heghlu'meH QaQ jajvam translates to ``today is a good day to die,'' which is indisputably an important statement in any warrior culture. Klingons are also a practical people, as evidenced by nuts-and-bolts questions such as asking where is bathroom located (nuqDaq 'oH puchpa''e'?). Although the Klingon language contains only about 2,000 words, each can be modified with prefixes and suffixes to connote different meanings. For example, qepHom translates into a small gathering or meeting, while a qep'a' is a large conference. Other times, however, Klingon suffers a crippling case of oversight. The word for horizon (ghangwI'), a mainstay of interstellar travelers everywhere, was added just in July 2002. Overall, it's safe to say that most Americans --even Star Trek fans -- don't understand the attraction of studying Klingon. --http://www.ohio.com/mld/beaconjournal/5703756.htm Master Q StarTrek_Master_Q@yahoo.com Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
master_q 0 Posted April 26, 2003 All I have to say is WOW During its annual conference (which, over the last 10 years has taken place in locations as diverse as Las Vegas, Philadelphia and Belgium), KLI offers Klingon proficiency exams to its 2,000 or so members. The organization (www.kli.org ) also offers a Klingon language course through the mail. the government recently asked Schoen to give a presentation to military and civilian linguists at the National Security Agency. Aware of possible terrorist threats, the government was curious about the potential for al-Qaeda operatives to communicate through Klingon, similar to the way Allied troops used Navajo code talkers to coordinate attacks during World War II . . . I think the article is self explanatory which makes we want to learn Klingon more. (Well I hope that everyone else does too) Master Q StarTrek_Master_Q@yahoo.com Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Falcon Redwing 0 Posted April 26, 2003 Learning Klingon looks really cool. I never knew it was such a big deal, though. This is only proof of how Star Trek has affected the world. A Klingon language tutorial type forum would be just what this site needs. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
master_q 0 Posted May 10, 2003 Oregon Department of Human Services Looking For Klingon Interpreter The Multnomah County, Oregon Department of Human Services is looking for a Klingon interpreter in case patients arrive at an emergency room speaking that language. County purchasing administrator Franna Hathaway told The Oregonian that she questioned the proposal when it first came in, but added that it would cost no money up front because the county would pay the interpreter only if he or she were actually called upon to translate Klingon. Because the county is obligated to provide information in all languages, according to procurement specialist Jerry Jelusich, the office that treats approximately 60,000 mentally ill individuals wants to be prepared in case a Klingon speaker arrives. "I've got people who think they're Napoleon," he said. Officials decided to include Klingon among 55 languages, which include rarely-spoken tongues such as Dari and Tongan. Jelusich said that research into Klingon grammar, syntax and vocabulary has proven that it is a real language. Several reviewers have also revealed that Klingon is also spoken in the new Eddie Murphy movie Daddy Day Care, in which a child believed to have a disorder actually proves to be speaking the Star Trek language. The film is on screens in the U.S. and Canada. --TrekToday http://www.trektoday.com/news/100503_04.shtml Master Q StarTrek_Master_Q@yahoo.com Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
VaBeachGuy 12 Posted May 10, 2003 That's funny! It shows how far reaching Star Trek is though. I think I'll have to take up a second language... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ensign_beedrill 0 Posted May 12, 2003 I found this interesting. The language created for the "Star Trek" TV series and movies is one of about 55 needed by the office that treats mental health patients in metropolitan Multnomah County. "We have to provide information in all the languages our clients speak," said Jerry Jelusich, a procurement specialist for the county Department of Human Services, which serves about 60,000 mental health clients. Although created for works of fiction, Klingon was designed to have a consistent grammar, syntax and vocabulary. And now Multnomah County research has found that many people -- and not just fans -- consider it a complete language. "There are some cases where we've had mental health patients where this was all they would speak," said the county's purchasing administrator, Franna Hathaway. County officials said that obligates them to respond with a Klingon-English interpreter, putting the language of starship Enterprise officer Worf and other Klingon characters on a par with common languages such as Russian and Vietnamese, and less common tongues including Dari and Tongan. From CNN Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dsbs 0 Posted May 12, 2003 well, i've never been one for languages (I know only English and pig latin) but i'd like to learn klingon! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
master_q 0 Posted May 16, 2003 Update Oregon County is no longer seeking a Klingon speaker to communicate with patients (story). Multnomah County chair Diane Linn told the Associated Press the call for a Klingon interpreter was "the result of an overzealous attempt to ensure that our safety net systems can respond to all customers and clients". Thanks to 'SonicRanger' for this! --TrekToday http://www.trektoday.com/news/140503_02.shtml Master Q StarTrek_Master_Q@yahoo.com Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
master_q 0 Posted May 18, 2003 Klingon classes for Trekkie fans Star Trek fans will be able to indulge their passion for the cult show thanks to a Staffordshire student. Rik Turner has produced a new interactive computer course to help people learn Klingon as part of his advanced technology degree at Staffordshire University. He used the TV series and books to prepare and devise the fictitious language for the CD Rom. While many may believe the language of Klingon is nothing more than a few random words and sounds thrown together, few people realise Klingon is a complete language system loosely based on the dialects of native American Indians 'Technological ability' Mr Turner said: "The idea of the project was to put together a multi-media CD Rom that would incorporate video, audio, text and graphics. "The idea was to put it together in such a way that we could learn a foreign language, the language being Klingon." However there is a serious side to what Mr Turner has achieved. His tutor, Liz Thurfield, said: "What we are making here isn't so much about content. "It is the vehicle for Rik showing what he can do. It's his technological ability and knowledge. It's how he offers the multi-media he has been working with." The university will be holding an open day on Friday --BBC http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/staffor...ire/3032369.stm Master Q StarTrek_Master_Q@yahoo.com Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Xeroc 0 Posted May 18, 2003 How do you say "Cool!" in Klingon??? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dsbs 0 Posted May 22, 2003 ``There's a lot of throat clearing,'' Schoen said. ``It sounds like coughing and spitting.'' :) LOL!!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
trekkergirl220 0 Posted June 18, 2003 ``There's a lot of throat clearing,'' Schoen said. ``It sounds like coughing and spitting.'' :lol: LOL!!! lol, sounds a bit like german :lol: How do you say "Cool!" in Klingon??? I was wondering the saem thing! I'm going to use it all the time as soon as I learn that! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
qurgh 0 Posted October 29, 2003 There is no word for cool in Klingon. You could say "jIbIr" but a Klingon would just tell you to stand by the fire. "Cool" is English slang and slang doesn't carry over well to other Earth bound cultures, let alone an alien culture. :lol: Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
