Archive of Okrandian Canon
| Author | Marc Okrand |
|---|---|
| Date | March 1996 |
| Publisher | Klingon Language Institute, Flourtown, PA, ISSN 1061-2327 |
| Source | HolQeD 5:1, page 10 |
| Title | A Note on Proverbs |
| Type | article |
Marc Okrand
It has long been known that proverbs play a significant role in Klingon culture. They are cited not only to impart the wisdom of Klingon society, but their correct usage -- at least in the case of so-called "replacement proverbs" -- is sometimes the only way to regain honor following an unfortunate situation.
Given the importance of proverbs, then, it is odd that the Klingon vocabulary associated with them has been little discussed.
The usual term for "proverb" is {vIttlhegh}, literally "truth rope" and formed, no doubt, by analogy with {mu'tlhegh} "sentence" or, "literally, "word rope."
Two types of proverbs have special names. A "secrecy proverb" -- that is, a proverb about secrecy -- is generally called {peghmey vIttlhegh} "secret's proverb" or "proverb of secrets." Infrequently the singular {pegh} "secret" (rather than the plural {peghmey}) is heard, shortening the construction to {pegh vIttlhegh}. Since {pegh} is also a verb (meaning "keep something secret"), {pegh vIttlhegh} can also be interpreted as a sentence meaning something like "a proverb keeps things secret," that is, it withholds information rather than being a ready source of answers. To some Klingons, this is a most insightful coincidence.
The Klingon term for a "replacement proverb" is {qa'meH vIttlhegh}. This is the only way to say "replacement proverb" currently, but in the past, the common term was the lengthier {quvqa'meH vIttlhegh}, literally, "proverb for (the purpose of) being honored again." The word {qa'meH}, clearly a shortened form of {quvqa'meH}, was originally used only in the construction of {qa'meH vIttlhegh}, but, though historically two verb suffixes, it has become accepted as a noun in its own right, meaning "replacement" in the sense of something that takes over for or is used instead of something that is gone or that has been lost. It is not used for a temporary substitute or a stand-in; the word for that is {lIw}.