by McReynolds
Many people don't remember klingonaase, the original Klingon language developed by John M. Ford in his excellent novel, The Final Reflection. And why should they? When Marc Okrand was hired by Paramount Pictures to develop a language for the warrior race for Star Trek III: The Search for Spock, he was not told to incorporate this "non-canon" language from years earlier. So, for a while, klingonaase information was virtually impossible to find. Until now!
The method of explanation has been simplified a lot:
word or phrase - [part of speech] "Literal translation." Explanitory notes. ("Source" [source code]).
The source codes are:
RPG - Star Trek: The Role Playing Game
TOSF - Original Series Fan Fiction
TOSN - Original Series Novel
'aase - [n, slang] The Klingon language. ("Dwellers in the Crucible" [TOSN]).
aitchnit - [n] A fever-inducing disease. ("Pawns and Symbols" [TOSN]).
boryx - [n] A vicious predator of Tahrn. ("Pawns and Symbols" [TOSN]).
Cymele - [n] A deity worshipped on Tahrn. ("Pawns and Symbols" [TOSN]).
doch - [excl] ???? ("Dwellers in the Crucible" [TOSN]).
dreton - [n] A fermented fruit drink. ("Klingons!" [TOSF]).
Durgath - [n] A deity worshipped on Tahrn. ("Pawns and Symbols" [TOSN]).
epetai-zana - [n, slang] "Honored and exalted one." A person who thinks he is more than he truly is. ("The Final Reflection" [TOSN]).
gozhe - [n] "Feces," or "excrement." [n, slang] Inspirational media or propaganda; shit. ("Beyond Diplomacy," "Diplomacy & Empire," and "One Blade, One Blood" [TOSF]).
graf - [n] "Anticurve rider." The Klingon equivalent to warp drive. ("The Final Reflection" [TOSN]).
hakkarl - [n] "Vanguard." A piece in klin zha. ("Rules of Engagement" [TOSN]).
Hathak Kang, kla I'il kurin aetheln. - "I salute you Kang, with all the aetheln which is your due." ("Pawns and Symbols" [TOSN]).
hogh - [n] A long unit of time. ("In Harm's Way" [TOSF]).
jilek - [n] A poetic form which subordinates meter to the creation of vivid images of emotions, normally used only for epic subjects. ("Klingon Dictionary" [TOSF]).
jurkim - [n] A tart, spicy ale that is the Klingon equivalent of buttered rum. ("Klingons!" [TOSF]).
kam - [n] A short unit of distance. ("In Harm's Way" [TOSF]).
Kahlesste kaase - [excl] "Kahless' hand." A battle cry or yell of astonishment. Refers to Kahless epetai-Riskadh, a famous ship commander during the Klingon-Romulan Wars of the early 21st Century. ("The Final Reflection," "Dwellers in the Crucible" [TOSN]).
kai - [excl] A general call of praise or honor. ("Dwellers in the Crucible" [TOSN]).
Kazh - [n] Common name of the Klingon homeworld. Also called Klinzhai. (<<<Orion Press>>>).
kherx - [n, slang] Accident. ("The Final Reflection" [TOSN]).
khest - [adj] "Dead." ("Dwellers in the Crucible" [TOSN]).
khest - [excl, vulgar] A general invective, much like yelling 'shit' or 'fuck' in English. ("The Final Reflection" [TOSN]).
khest - [v, vulgar] "Err." Roughly equivalent to saying 'screw up' or 'fuck up' in English. Alternatively, to engage in sexual intercourse, as in 'fuck.' ("The Final Reflection" [TOSN]).
khesterex - [n] "The structure which dies." A dead or dying culture. ("The Klingons" [RPG]).
khex (kh'ex) - [adj] "Nonfunctional," "inoperative," or "broken." ("The Klingons" [RPG]).
khex (kh'ex) - [n, slang] A corpse, flat-liner, or stiff. ("The Klingons" [RPG]).
kh'uled - [n] A lightweight, keen-bladed dueling sword. ("Klingons!" [TOSF]).
kilaan - [n] A unit of time. ("Klingons!" [TOSF]).
kilvan - [n] A strong, spicy alcoholic drink. ("Klingons!" [TOSF]).
kleon - [n] "Opponent." ("The Final Reflection" [TOSN]).
kle'tih'bach - [n] "Politics." ("Dwellers in the Crucible" [TOSN]).
klibicule - [n] A protein-rich grain. ("Pawns and Symbols" [TOSN]).
klingonaase - [n] The Klingon language. ("The Final Reflection," "Dwellers in the Crucible" [TOSN]).
Klinzhai (Klin Zhai) - [n] Official name of the Klingon homeworld. Also called Kazh. ("The Final Reflection," "Dwellers in the Crucible" [TOSN]).
komerex - [n] "The structure which grows." A growing empire. ("The Klingons" [RPG]).
Komerex Federazhon - [n] "Federation Empire." The United Federation of Planets. ("The Final Reflection" [TOSF]).
Komerex Klingon - [n] "Klingon Empire." ("The Final Reflection" [TOSN]).
Komerex Vrai't - [n] "Truth of Empire." A leading Inspirational Media publication featuring news and propaganda of the Klingon Empire. ("Beyond Diplomacy," "Diplomacy & Empire," and "One Blade, One Blood" [TOSF]).
Kragyr - [n] Hell, the lair of Fek'lhr, guardian of Gre'thor. ("Liberation from Hell" [TOSF]).
k't'al - [n] A ceremonial challenge proclaiming a leader to be unfit for command due to age. ("Klingons!" [TOSF]).
kuve - [n] "Servitor." Not a slave; a kuve has some honor as they were destined to serve, as opposed to a slave who is forced to serve due to his dishonor. ("The Final Reflection" [TOSN]). [n] "Servitor race." ("The Klingons" [RPG]).
kuveleta - [n, vulgar] "Servitor's half-child." A biting insult. ("The Final Reflection" [TOSN]).
kuvesa tokhesa - "I serve willingly." ("The Final Reflection" [TOSN]).
mantril - [n] An epithet. ("Liberation from Hell" [TOSF]).
nada - [n] "Battle surgeon." A ship's chief medical officer. Also, a priest of the ancient Klingon god-patron of medicine. ("Star Trek Log Seven" [TASN], "Liberation from Hell" [TOSF]).
nal - [adv] "Not." ("The Final Reflection" [TOSN]).
nu Kishai'in - [n] "Book of War." ("Nu Ormenel Series" [TOSF]).
orashathnavi - [n] "Patterns of Challenge." The written codes of honor by which the Klingons live. There are seven books. ("Nu Ormenel Series" [TOSF]).
Peneli - [n] A planet near the heart of the Klingon Empire. ("Pawns and Symbols" [TOSN]).
seyilt - [n] A bamboo-like plant native to Tahrn. ("Pawns and Symbols" [TOSN]).
siee - [excl] A general-purpose exclamation of astonishment, wonder, or excitement. ("Pawns and Symbols" [TOSN]).
slean - [n] A furred predator from Tahrn's grasslands. ("Pawns and Symbols" [TOSN]).
straave (straav') - [n] "Slave." One who is forced to serve due to his dishonor, unlike a servitor. ("The Final Reflection" [TOSF]).
Tahrn - [n] A planet near the heart of the Klingon Empire. ("Pawns and Symbols" [TOSN]).
tazhat - [n] "Flier." A piece in klin zha. ("Rules of Engagement" [TOSN]).
tel - [conj] "Or." ("The Final Reflection," "Dwellers in the Crucible" [TOSN]).
theld - "House" or "line." The social and political groups to which all Klingons belong. ("Pawns and Symbols" [TOSN]).
thelerrin - [n] A general term for a younger female of a household. ("Pawns and Symbols" [TOSN]).
theora kh'ex - [n] "Music of Dying." A type of song or poem concerning death in combat, usually with philisophical overtones. ("Beyond Diplomacy," "Diplomacy & Empire," and "One Blade, One Blood" [TOSF]).
tokhe - [adj] "Willing." ("The Final Reflection" [TOSN]).
tokhesa - [adv] "Willingly." ("The Final Reflection" [TOSN]).
tormin - [n] "Sergeant." ("Pawns and Symbols" [TOSN]).
t'scha - [excl, vulgar] A general invective, similar in effect to 'hell no' in English. ("Klingons!" [TOSF]).
Tseni - [n] A viral disease that destroys grain crops. ("Pawns and Symbols" [TOSN]).
tsungu - [n] A Klingon game similar to Chinese chess. ("Pawns and Symbols" [TOSN]).
vitz - [n] A Gellian drink common in the Klingon Empire. ("Star Trek Log Seven" [TASN]).
zan - "Mister." A gender-neutral title used primarily in military situations. ("The Final Reflection" [TOSN], "The Klingons" [RPG]).
yjuk - [excl, vulgar] A mild general epithet, roughly analogous to saying 'damn' in English. ("Klingons!" [TOSF]).
Adjectives - adjective noun. (Example: tokhe straav' - willing slave).
Adverbs - verb adverb. (Example: kuvesa tokhesa - I serve willingly).
Conjunctions - noun 1 conjunction noun 2. (Example: komerex tel khesterex - Growing empire or dead culture).
First Person Singular - verb-sa. (Example: kuvesa - I serve).
Plural - noun-i. (Example: komerexi - Empires).
Past Tense - verb-'t. (Example: khest't - screwed up).
Possessive - possessor-te object. Only applies to sentient beings. (Example: Kahlesste kaase - Kahless' hand).
E-Mail: rmcrey@flash.net
Last Modified: 02 November 1997