vav jaj

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Publishing this post on June 16, 2013 - Father's Day.

While Klingons do not have a specific celebration of fathers - there is no vav jaj Father's Day in the Klingon calendar - the Klingon language has a few things to day about the topic of fathers, sons and families.

The tlhIngan Hol for father is vav, and the word for son is puqloD. The word for family is qorDu'.

Fathers are an important part of Klingon culture. A Klingon is required to learn his father's and father's father's lineage for many generations, and the male head of a Klingon tuq House or tuq'a' Great House gives his name to that House.

Quotes

Chancellor Gorkon: I propose a toast. The Undiscovered Country. The future.

Azetbur: vavoy ("Daddy")

Lt. Klag: My father was captured in battle by Romulans and not allowed to die. He eventually escaped.

Commander William T. Riker: Where is he now?

Lt. Klag: He is on our planet. He waits.

Tactics Officer: He waits for his death.

Lt. Klag: He will eventually fade of a natural illness and die, weakened and useless. Honorless. I will not see him.

Commander William T. Riker: He's your father!

Lt. Klag: A Klingon is his work, not his family. That is the way of things.

Lt. Klag: Klingons do not express feelings the way you do

Commander William T. Riker: Perhaps you should.

Lt. Klag: We would not know how.

Commander William T. Riker: Yesterday I did not know how to eat gagh.

These are Dr Frasier Crane's words:-

puqloDwI' le'qu' ... Hoch jaj choquvmoH. lenglIj lutebjaj lengwIjvaD bel rap Sov Danobpu'bogh

In English ...

My very special son ... every day you honor me. May the same pleasure, the knowledge that you have given to my journey fill your journey.

Proverbs

Some proverbs on the subject of fathers, sons and family follow, all taken from the book The Klingon Way.

reH DuSIgh vavlI'

Your father is a part of you always.

vangDI' tlhIngan SuvwI' ngoy' qorDu'Daj;
vangDI' qorDu'Daj ngoy' tlhIngan SuvwI'
The family of a Klingon warrior is responsible for his actions,
and he is responsible for theirs.

qaStaHvIS wej puq poHmey; vav puqloDpu' puqloDpu'chaj je
quvHa'moH vav quvHa'ghach
The dishonor of the father dishonors his sons
and their sons for three generations.

wa' jaj 'etlh 'uchchoHlaH tlhIngan puqloD;
jajvetlh loD nen moj
The son of a Klingon is a man the day he can first hold a blade.

Happy Father's Day to all out there who are fathers, and remember:-

yIlop! wa'leS chaq maHegh!
Celebrate! Tomorrow we may die!

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