Archive of Okrandian Canon
| Author | Marc Okrand |
|---|---|
| Date | December 2001 |
| Publisher | Klingon Language Institute, Flourtown, PA, ISSN 1061-2327 |
| Source | HolQeD 10:4, pages 4–5 |
| Summary | Maltz gives us a lesson in Klingon bird-watching, and talks about how to distinguish a few types of them, as well as how to discuss pecking, flying and the various body parts of birds. |
| Title | matlh juppu’ mu’mey |
| Type | article |
Marc Okrand
At the {qep'a' chorghDIch} Robyn Stewart and Eric Andeen were honored for their continuing service to the KLI and inducted into the venerable Order of the Friends of Maltz. As such, each was entitled to select one word which would be conveyed to Maltz himself, who would in turn reveal the nearest {tlhIngan Hol} equivalent, and perhaps more. As of the time of this writing, Maltz had only received a request from one of his new friends (the other has since submitted her word through the appropriate Federation channels and Maltz's response is still pending). That word was "bird," and here is Maltz's reply
"On the Klingon home planet, there are a number of different kinds of flying creatures. One large group of them bears a closer resemblance to Earth birds than do other types. They have feathers (as distinct from fur, scales, or other outer covering), have a bill or beak, and have wings (as opposed to something resembling arms). Most, but not all, can fly, but all can also walk --- some even run --- on their two legs. Some can swim and spend a great deal of time in (rather, on) water. The females lay eggs. They range in size from rather small (an adult could easily be held in the palm of a Klingon's hand) to quite large (rivaling a good-sized Klingon warrior). An expert can distinguish one species from another by its distinctive cry or song."
The most general Klingon word for a creature of this type is {bo'Degh}, and this is the Klingon word Maltz would use to translate "bird." Though not a birdwatcher by any means, Maltz said he was familiar with a few types of Klingon {bo'Deghmey}. Here are some of them.
{borghel} a very small bird whose eggs are considered quite tasty
{cha'bIp} a bird noted for its speed
{cha'Do'} (Maltz wasn't sure what kind of a bird this was, but he was very familiar with the word)
{cha'naS} a small bird which digs up bugs to eat
{cha'par} a bird noted for its song
{cha'qu'} a bird with a noisy, repetitive cry
{Da'vI'} and {Da'nal} two very similar birds, both characterized by erratic, unpredictable behavior
{lIr} a nocturnal bird
{lotlhmoq} a bird that swoops into the water in order to catch food, but cannot swim
{notqa'} a large, black bird (nowhere near as large as a {qa'rol}, which is really big)
{parbIng} a mid-sized bird with particularly garish coloring (at least from a Klingon point of view)
{qanraD} another bird known for its song
{raw'} an aquatic bird with colorful plumage
{toQ} a bird of prey
{vem'eq} a bird that feeds almost exclusively on the serpent worm from which {qagh} is made (Klingons are not particularly fond of the {vem'eq})
{waqboch} a bird with a very long beak
{yatqap} a gray (sometimes white) bird that can travel particularly long distances without pausing
There are a few animals that make a particular ruckus at dawn. One of these, the {'uSgheb}, is a bird which is particularly noisy and has been likened to a rooster (though it is much fiercer). Another, though not a bird, is the {Qa'}, specifically the {jajlo' Qa'} (<dawn> {Qa'}). (The {Qa'Hom}, an animal similar to a {Qa'} but smaller, has been confused with a bird by some; Maltz does not know why, especially since it is the {jajlo' Qa'}, not the {Qa'Hom}, that makes a fuss in the morning like the {'uSgheb} does.) Maltz said he has also heard the phrase {po Ha'DIbaH}, literally <morning animal>, used to refer to the {'uSgheb}. He thinks {po Ha'DIbaH} has some sort of literary source, since it is used in operas and plays but not often in everyday speech. Maltz supposed that {po Ha'DIbaH} could refer to a {jajlo' Qa'} as well.
It is not known whether the fact that a number of these words for different types of birds begin with the syllable {cha'-} (and two with {Da'-}) is meaningful or a coincidence. There is no word {cha'} (or {Da'}) that has anything in particular to do with birds.
The plural suffix for birds is usually {-mey}, the general plural suffix, as would be expected. There is a difference of opinion, however, about which plural suffix to use for a few birds capable of mimicking speech, such as the {vIlInHoD} and the {qaryoq} (and the larger {qaryoq'a'}), with some Klingons using {-mey} but others preferring {-pu'}, the plural suffix for beings capable of using language. Maltz is a member of the former camp; he said he was never able to engage a {qaryoq} in a conversation that made any sense.
Some other words associated with birds are the nouns {QIm} <egg>, {pach} <claw, talon>, {tel} <wing>, {neb} <beak, bill>, and {bo} <feather>; and the verbs {puv} <fly>, {qaj} <soar>, {wom} <peck> (used for both eating and attacking by pecking), {ngun} <perch> (the verb {Saq} is used if the bird alights on the ground, {tlhot} if it lands on the water), and {laq} <flap>. Regarding the last word, Maltz pointed out that, in flight, a bird's wings {laq} (the bird is said to {laqmoH} its wings), but when a banner or sail flaps, the correct word to use is {joq} <flap, flutter, wave>.
Though admittedly off topic, Maltz volunteered that the most general word for "fish" was {ghotI'}, and that there were different kinds of animals that lived in the water, but he didn't provide additional details.
Finally, when he heard that his new friend had considered asking for "mirror" before deciding on asking for "bird," Maltz blurted out that there are two common words for "mirror": {SIla'} and {neSlo'}. He said that a {SIla'} was typically larger than a {neSlo'}, but he wasn't sure if there was any other difference.