2013-09-07

Klingon Dialogue from Star Trek Into Darkness

Recently, J J Abrams' second foray into the Star Trek franchise came to the cinema screens. Star Trek Into Darkness featured Uhura (Zoe Saldana) and a Klingon leader engaging in a conversation for a few seconds.

The dialogue has come up on Google Docs, courtesy of those Klingonist scholars of the Klingon Language Institute.

The Document

And the dialogue:-

Spoken Klingon dialogue from “Star Trek Into Darkness”

Klingon bISaqQo’[taH?]chugh vaj bIHegh. DaH ma[beh]. bISuvtaH [...] bISaqQo’...

(If you continue to refuse to land, you will die. Now we [???]. You [fight?]...)

Uhura [jIv|Dev]wI’ la[tlh|H] jIve[?].
English sub: Who’s in charge here?
German sub: Ich bin hier, um Ihnen zu helfen.

(One of the Klingons steps forward after she says this.)

Uhura jIyI’. [or: jIyIq.]
English sub: I am here to help you.
German sub: Voller respekt.

[l|r]a[tlh|ch] jI[H?]vo’ na[H?] Da[H|q] pIghvamDaq So’’eghtaH.
([A terrorist] is hiding in these ruins.)
English sub: With respect, there is a terrorist hiding in these ruins.
German sub: In diesen Ruinen versteckt sich ein Terrorist.

‘ej Dochmey [wI?] [bIngDaq?] [mapegh?].
English sub: He has killed many of our people.
German sub: Er hat viele unserer Leute getötet.

Klingon toH, Hegh Humanpu’. qatlh jISaH [DISaH]?
(So, humans died. Why should we care about them?)
English sub: Why should I care about a human killing humans?
German sub: Warum soll mich Mensch interessieren der Menschen tötet?

Uhura potlhmo’ batlh, vIqaw[=qel?]ba’.
English sub: Because you care about honor,
German sub: Weil Ihnen Ehre etwas bedeutet.

‘ej cheboq[meH|neH] jIvum[’e’|meH|neH].
English sub: And this man has none.
German sub: Dieser Mann besitzt keine.

QoblI’ba’ [sounds like -bang] SoH juppu’lI’ je. [sounded more like qe]
English sub: You and your people are in danger.
German sub: Sie und Ihre Leute sind in Gefahr.

Klingons (multiple shouting) DaH bIHegh [= batlh maHegh?] / wo’ wItoy’ / Qapla’ / Qu’vatlh [?]

German novelisation, translated back to English by Lieven:

"I'm here to help you. Who's your commander?"
"Shut up, Human. You will first answer MY questions: Why do you speak Klingon?"

"We, the K'Normians, are famous traders. It's our business to speak other languages"

"You're not authorised to be here. Why did you risk doing a not permitted landing?"

"With all due respect, in these ruins there is a terrorist hiding. He has killed many of our people. The reward for his capture is very high. This even justifies a dangerous landing on Kronos."

"Why should I care about humans killing each other? Why should any Klingon care?"

"Because you care about honor. And this man doesn't have any."

"There is no honor in getting a reward either"
(he turns to the soldiers)
"We should find out where she came from. There might be some truth in her story. But whatever the motivation is, a Human does not belong here."
(he grabs Uhura)
"Reward or Honor does not matter - you do not belong here."

English from novelisation, transcribed by Felix:

Uhura: "I am here to help you. Who's in charge?"

Klingon: "Silence, human! You will answer *my* questions. How do you know our language?"

U: We K'normians are famous as traders. Knowing the language of others is my business."

K: "Your presence here is not authorized. What could possibly cause you to take the risk of making an unauthorized landing?"

U: "With respect: There is a terrorist hiding in these ruins. He has killed many of our people. The reward for his capture is substantial: worth even the risk of landing on Qo'noS. We intend to collect it."

K: "Why should I care about humans killing humans? Why should any Klingon?"

U: "Because you care about honor. And this man has none."

K: "You say you come to gain a reward. There is no honor in that, either."

K (to his soldiers): "We must find out how she came to be here. Her explanation may be truthful, but no matter how powerful the motivation, no human should be in this place."

K (to Uhura): "Reward or honor, it matters not. You should not be on our world."

1 comment:

  1. I'm more interested in Khan's Klingon shouting while in battle. What was he saying?

    ReplyDelete

DaH yIjatlh! Speak now!