Re: Aesthetic Language Sense

At 02:19 PM 10/11/99 -0500, Eric Christopherson wrote:

>I think a lot of Klingon words sound appropriate in some way for their
>meanings. But what I don't like about Klingon words is how simple they are
>phonologically, even for complex concepts such as "torpedo" (DuS IIRC).
I suspect the the "true" origin of many of these very simple Klingon words
is a metaphorical extension from a simpler meaning.  For example, there
is the word "chetvI'", which we've known for a long time to be a type of
torpedo launcher (opposed to a "DuS", which is actually another kind of
launching device).  We learned only in the latest book by the language's
creator, Marc Okrand, that a "chetvI'" is also a type of spear=throwing
tool (called IIRC, an "atlatl" by the Incas).  Clearly, the original word
was extended to include the powered torpedo launcher on a spaceship.
I wouldn't be surprised if most of these monosyllables for complex
concepts have similar origins.  Maybe "DuS" originally referred to the
long tube of a blowgun, and just means "tube".

-- Terry

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