Clipped Klingon is sometimes called "Battle Language," but it is used extensively outside of military context. Clipped Klingon often ignores some of the rules of "proper" Klingon grammar, and is often used under circumstances where quick, rather than eloquent, communication is necessary.
Dropping the Prefix
When giving a command in Clipped Klingon, leave off the imperative prefix. Just start with the verb. This is the most basic form of Clipped Klingon.
Formal Klingon:-
| yIbuS! | Concentrate! |
| HIHIv! | Attack me! |
| peqIm! | Pay attention! |
| gholob! | Obey us! |
| tIHoH! | Kill them! |
| yIba! | Sit down! |
| yIDoH! | Back off! |
| yISop! | Eat it! |
| pemej! | Leave! |
| yI'el! | Enter! |
Clipped Klingon:-
| buS! | Concentrate! |
| HIv! | Attack! |
| qIm! | Attention! |
| lob! | Obey! |
| HoH! | Kill! |
| ba! | Sit! |
| DoH! | Back off! |
| Sop! | Eat! |
| mej! | Leave! |
| 'el! | Enter! |
In each instance, it should be clear who the subject and object of each command is. tIHoH, for example, would be given to a unit about to engage in lethal combat with a group of enemies. If there was a single target, the proper Klingon would be yIHoH - but even then, in Clipped Klingon the target should be clear to the person being commanded.
Clipped Klingon commands can also be given with a specific object:-
Formal Klingon:-
| wIy yIcha'! | Show the tactical display! |
| pa' yI'el! | Enter the room! |
| He chu' yIghoS! | Follow a new course! |
| So'wI' yIchu'! | Activate the cloaking device! |
| cha yIbaH! | Fire the torpedoes! |
| Dujvetlh yItlha'! | Follow that ship! |
| Duj HeDaj yIghoch! | Track the ship's course! |
| tera'ngan yIyaH! | Take the Terran away! |
| jaghvetlh yIHoH! | Kill that enemy! |
| jen yIchu'! | Activate the device! |
Clipped Klingon:-
| wIy cha'! | Show the tactical display! |
| pa' 'el! | Enter the room! |
| He chu' ghoS! | Follow a new course! |
| So'wI' chu'! | Activate the cloaking device! |
| cha baH! | Fire the torpedoes! |
| Dujvetlh tlha'! | Follow that ship! |
| Duj HeDaj ghoch! | Track the ship's course! |
| tera'ngan yaH! | Take the Terran away! |
| jaghvetlh HoH! | Kill that enemy! |
| jen chu'! | Activate the device! |
This would be, for instance, if it had to be made clear that it was the torpedoes which needed to be fired, rather than the phasers; or that it was the Terran, as compared to the Ferengi, which had to be taken away.
Critical Noun
If the noun is critical, and what needs to be done with it is obvious, the verb could be dropped leaving just the noun.
Formal Klingon:-
| wIy yIcha'! | Show the tactical display! |
| So'wI' yIchu'! | Activate the cloaking device! |
| cha yIbaH! | Fire the torpedoes! |
| chuyDaH yIlaQ! | Fire the thrusters! |
Clipped Klingon:-
| wIy! | Tactical display! |
| So'wI'! | Cloaking device! |
| cha! | Torpedoes! |
| chuyDaH! | Thrusters! |
This is particularly common in a ropyaH sickbay or ropyaH qach hospital environment:-
| petqaD HInob! | Give me the bone knitter! |
| Haqtaj HInob! | Give me the scalpel! |
| 'uD Haqtaj HInob! | Give me the laser scalpel! |
| tuj muvwI' HInob! | Give me the thermo-suture! |
| petqaD! | Bone knitter! |
In this instance, it is clear that the instruction is to give the surgeon the device or tool in question, rather than attempt to use it oneself.
Next: Clipped Klingon and Talking Back
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