Drinking and Celebrating, The Klingon Way, Part 3

In today's post, we will examine the gentle art of the toast.

The most famous Klingon toast is

'IwlIj jachjaj

May your blood scream

There are many such toasts, including some traditional ones:-

reH HIvje'lIjDaq 'Iwghargh Datu'jaj	May you always find a bloodworm in your glass.*
QuvlIjDaq yIH tu'be'lu'jaj	May your coordinates be free of tribbles.*
'oy' DaSIQjaj	May you endure the pain.*
qoSlIj DatIvjaj	Happy Birthday* literally, "May you enjoy your birthday"
bInajtaHvIS qeylIS qa' Daghomjaj	May you encounter the spirit of Kahless in your dreams*
jIlajneS ghIj qet jaghmeyjaj	I am honoured to accept. May our enemies run in fear.
bItuHpa' bIHeghjaj	Death before shame.*
bISuvtaHvIS bIHeghjaj	May you die in battle.*
'Iw bIQtIqDaq bIlengjaj	May you travel down the River of Blood.
reH tlhInganpu' taHjaj.	Klingons forever!*
reH tlhIngan wo' taHjaj	Long live the Klingon Empire!*
reH tlhIngan Hol taHjaj	Long live the Klingon language!
SoHDaq qeylIS qa' yInjaj	May the spirit of Kahless dwell within you!*

Key to a Klingon toast is a Type 9 verb suffix you have not encountered before:-

-jaj may

Two elements make up a good toast. First, the verb traditionally ends with the Type 9 -jaj suffix:-

DaSIQjaj	May you endure it
tu'lu'jaj	May it be there
tu'be'lu'jaj	May it not be there
batlh bIHeghjaj	May you die with honour
Daghomjaj	May you encounter it
DaQoyjaj	May you hear it
Dalarghjaj	May you smell it
DaHotjaj	May you feel it
DatIvjaj	May you enjoy it
reH taHjaj	May it last forever / Long may it live

Second, the verb-plus-jaj always comes at the end:-

yIn DaSIQjaj	May you endure life
jaghpu'lIj HochHom Dajeyjaj	May you defeat most of your enemies

The last is a reference to a famous epic poem, lu qang The Fall of Kang, written by the poet G'Trok. One line from the poem reads

So honour the valiant who die 'neath your sword,

But pity the Warrior who slays all his foes.

A noted exception to the second toasting rule is the Oath of Acceptance by a cha'DIch second in a legal battle.

jIlajneS ghIj qet jaghmeyjaj

I am honoured to accept. May our enemies run in fear.

Here, the -jaj suffix actually appears on the end of the noun, and not on the verb at all. The traditional explanation is that this ritual phrase is very, very old, and comes from an older time, under another Emperor, where the rules of grammar were very different to that which they are today, the equivalent of using a set phrase from one of the plays of Shakespeare in his archaic dialect of English such as "This above all: to thine own self be true" - (Hamlet, Act I, Scene III).

Note

Klingon culture is highly ritualised. It is recommended that, for the most part, if you must offer a toast to a Klingon, stick to the set toasts outlined above, marked with an asterisk.

Next: More Klingon beverages and the wide-ranging cultural impact of drinks.

Using -chugh In A Sentence

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Using -chugh

The tlhIngan Hol Type 9 verb suffix -chugh if is applied to verbs in the same way as any other suffix. Here's how you use -chugh in a Klingon sentence.

The Klingon Dictionary has this to say about verbs in subordinate clauses (which includes verbs modified by -bogh and -meH, not to mention -chugh):-

Klingon verbs ending in Type 9 suffixes ... always occur in sentences with another verb. Hence, they are verbs in subordinate clauses ... Note that the order of the two parts of the sentence is variable.

The Klingon Dictionary does not have that much else to say about if in a sentence; however, in two major examples, bIjeghbe'chugh vaj bIHegh Surrender or die! and bIje'be'chugh vaj bIHegh Buy or die!, tlhIngan Hol uses another word after the verb marked with -chugh:-

vaj thus, in that case, so, accordingly, then (adverbial)

The adverbial vaj comes after the verb marked with -chugh, and is the then component to the if clause. Some examples follow:-

bIjeghbe'chugh vaj bIHegh	Surrender or die!
bIje'be'chugh vaj bIHegh	Buy or die!
bISuvbe'chugh vaj bIHegh	Fight or die!, and so on
ghIchwIj DaboghmoHchugh ghIchlIj qanob	If you shine my nose, I will hand you your nose (famous Klingon proverb which demonstrates that vaj is not always necessary)
naDev jIQongchugh jIHeghbej	If I sleep here, I shall most certainly die
naDev jIQongchugh jIHeghbej	If I sleep here, I shall most certainly die
DaH jIQongchugh jIHeghbej	If I sleep now, I shall most certainly die
pa' Sojvetlh Soppu'chugh vaj chaq Soj nIHlu'bogh Sojta'	If he ate that food there, he may have eaten stolen food
SutlIj DatuQHa'moHchugh SoHvaD vIloS	If you are taking off your clothes, I will wait for you
SevmeH Surchem Sorghbe'ta'chugh tera'ngan, vaj 'oH Sorghta' 'Iv	If the Terran did not sabotage the containment force field, who did?

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"If" and the Type 9 verb suffix -chugh

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"If" - The -chugh Suffix

tlhIngan Hol has a way of saying if in a sentence: the Type 9 verb suffix -chugh.

Placing -chugh at the end of a verb X turns it into a conditional: if X.

naDev jIQong	I'll sleep here
naDev jIQongchugh	If I sleep here
pa' Sojvetlh Soppu'	He ate that food there
pa' Sojvetlh Soppu'chugh	If he ate that food there
SutlIj DatuQHa'moH	You are taking off your clothes
SutlIj DatuQHa'moHchugh	If you are taking off your clothes

Next: From if to then, and the word vaj.

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Using The Purpose Clause In A Sentence

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The Klingon Dictionary, on section 6.2.4, describes how to use the purpose clause.

If an action is being done in order to accomplish something, or for the purpose of accomplishing something, the verb describing what is to be accomplished ends with the Type 9 suffix -meH, which may be translated for, for the purpose of, in order to.

The purpose clause always precedes the noun or verb whose purpose it is describing ... The second of two identical nouns may be replaced by a pronoun or, if the context is clear, left out altogether.

maQapmeH maSuv	in order to win / so as to succeed
SuyInmeH peSuv; SuSuvmeH peyIn	Live to fight; fight to live!
So'bogh loD nejmeH be' chut bIvta' be'	The woman broke the law to seek the hiding man
So'bogh loD nejmeH chut bIvta'	She broke the law to seek the hiding man
Hub veH wIchermeH wa'DIch naDev wIngIvnIS	We must patrol hereabouts in order to establish a defence perimeter
jaghpu'Daj SuvmeH SuvwI' reH HoS'eghnISmoH SuvwI'	A warrior must always build up his strength in order to fight his enemies
jaghpu'Daj SuvmeH SuvwI' reH HoS'eghnISmoH	A warrior must always build up his strength in order to fight his enemies
HoSchem leHmeH yIntaghvo' HoS ngIpnISta' jonwI''a'	The Chief Engineer had to draw power from life support in order to maintain the force field

Of course, -meH turns up in one of the most famous Klingon sayings:-

Heghlu'meH QaQ jajvam

It is a good day to die

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The Purpose Clause: -meH

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(Edit: This is the 100th post to this blog.)

The Purpose Clause

Klingon uses another Type 9 verb suffix to mark another kind of clause: the purpose clause, or so as to or in order to. This is the suffix -meH.

-meH purpose clause marker

This suffix is used when you want to say that you are doing something in order to or so as to achieve something else. Sometimes you don't need the "in order" part in English - but -meH is always mandatory in tlhIngan Hol.

Qap	win, function, succeed
QapmeH	in order to win / so as to succeed
jagh luHoH	they kill the enemy
jagh luHoHmeH	(in order for them) to kill the enemy
So'bogh loD nej	she seeks the hiding man
So'bogh loD nejmeH	(in order) to seek the hiding man
chaw'	allow, permit
chaw'meH	in order to allow
cher	establish, set up
chermeH	in order to establish
Suv	fight
SuvmeH	in order to fight
leH	maintain
leHmeH	so as to maintain
Dub	improve
DubmeH	in order to improve
ghoch	track down
ghochmeH	so as to track down

Next time: Using -meH in a sentence.

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"Which:" the Verb Suffix -bogh

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When you need to say something along the lines of The book that you are reading, The weapon which you prefer or The place where the alien slept, you are using what is known as a relative clause: a clause beginning with who, which, where or that.

These kinds of clauses require the Type 9 verb suffix -bogh.

-bogh Which

The relative-clause marker is used to modify a verb, which is then attached to a noun and modifies it in the manner of an adjective. The noun which is modified in the relative clause is known as the head noun.

The head noun can come before or after the verb in the relative clause, depending on whether the head noun is in the position of being an instigator of the activity (where it would appear after the modifying verb as a subject), or the recipient of the activity (where it appears before the modifying verb as an object).

Examples of an active head noun:

taDmoHbogh taS	A freezing solution/ (a solution which causes freezing)
So'taHbogh ghoqwI'	A spy who is hiding
He'So'bogh naH	A fruit that stinks
qetbogh loD	A running man
baHtaHbogh Dujmey	The ships that are firing
bejchu'bogh 'avwI'	The watchful guard/ (the guard who watches perfectly)

The verb can take on other kinds of suffixes, but one of the commonest is the Type 5 suffix -lu' indefinite subject, conveying the meaning is being, or has been or had been in conjunction with the Type 7 aspect marker suffixes -pu' perfective or -ta' done, accomplished.

Some more examples:-

mu'mey choHlu'pu'bogh	The words which had been altered
lutmey ja'lu'pu'bogh	The stories which had been told
Dargh tlhutlhlu'bogh	The tea which is being drunk

On Friday, we'll see how these are used in Klingon sentences.

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Index Of All Klingon Verb Suffixes

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Index Of Verb Suffixes

The following is a list of all the verb suffixes, collected together and organised by type; and below that, a list of the suffixes in Klingon alphabetical order.

Each suffix will have a link to the page where it appears as the subject.

Type 1: Reflexive (Oneself / One another)

-chuq	one another
-'egh	oneself

Type 2: (Volition / Predisposition)

-beH	ready, set up (referring to devices)
-nIS	need
-qang	willing
-rup	ready, prepared (referring to beings)
-vIp	afraid

Type 3: Change

-choH	change in state, change in direction
-qa'	resume, do again

Type 4: Causation

-moH

cause

Type 5: Indefinite subject / Ability

-laH	can, able
-lu'	indefinite subject

Type 6: Qualification

-ba'	obviously
-bej	certainly, undoubtedly
-chu'	clearly, perfectly
-law'	seemingly, apparently

Type 7: Aspect

-lI'	in progress
-pu'	perfective
-taH	continuous
-ta'	accomplished, done

Type 8: Honorific

-neS

honorific

Type 9: Syntactic markers

-bogh	which, subordinate clause marker
-chugh	if
-DI'	when, as soon as
-ghach	nominaliser
-jaj	may
-meH	purpose clause, for
-mo'	because
-pa'	before
-vIS	while, during
-wI'	thing or person which does, doer
-'a'	interrogative

Rovers

-be'	negative, not
-Ha'	undo
-qu'	emphatic
-Qo'	don't!, won't

Verb Suffixes In Klingon Alphabetical Order

Suffix	Translation	Type
-ba'	obviously	6
-beH	ready, set up/ (referring to devices)	2
-bej	certainly, undoubtedly	6
-be'	negative, not	R
-bogh	which, subordinate clause marker	9
-choH	change in state, change in direction	3
-chugh	if	9
-chuq	one another	1
-chu'	clearly, perfectly	6
-DI'	when, as soon as	9
-ghach	nominaliser	9
-Ha'	undo	R
-jaj	may	9
-laH	can, able	5
-law'	seemingly, apparently	6
-lI'	in progress	7
-lu'	indefinite subject	5
-meH	purpose clause, for	9
-moH	cause	4
-mo'	because	9
-neS	honorific	8
-nIS	need	2
-pa'	before	9
-pu'	perfective	7
-qang	willing	2
-qa'	resume, do again	3
-qu'	emphatic	R
-Qo'	don't!, won't	R
-rup	ready, prepared/ (referring to beings)	2
-taH	continuous	7
-ta'	accomplished, done	7
-vIp	afraid	2
-vIS	while, during	9
-wI'	thing or person which does, doer	9
-'a'	interrogative	9
-'egh	oneself	1

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The Last Of The Verb Suffixes - Type 9

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Syntactic Markers

The rest of the tlhIngan Hol verb suffixes have now been done. Some of the basic Type 9 syntactic markers have now been listed, along with examples in speech. This article basically collects the rest, which have not been described as yet.

The syntactic markers already covered are:-

-DI'	as soon as, when;
-pa'	before;
-vIS	while, during;
-wI'	person or thing which does;
-'a'	interrogative;

These suffixes are all that remain. They are used to construct some complex sentences, and as such their scope is too broad to be covered in this one post.

The suffixes listed below will be covered in due course, as this blog moves on to covering complex sentences. For the moment, this post will only list the suffixes and their title as given in The Klingon Dictionary.

The suffixes are:-

-bogh	which, who - a purpose-clause marker;
-chugh	if;
-ghach	nominaliser;
-jaj	may (used in toasts);
-meH	purpose clause;
-mo'	because;

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The Honorific Suffix: -neS

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Honorifics

The Klingons have a number of words relating to honour. There are nouns, verbs and adverbials relating to acquiring and losing honour, justly and falsely acquiring honour, and behaving honourably and dishonourably. Among all of this vocabulary, there is also a single tlhIngan Hol verb suffix; the only suffix of Type 8. It is rarely used.

-neS honorific

-neS is used in addressing a superior, in the hierarchical structure. This suffix indicates extreme politeness or deference towards that superior. This suffix is never required.

A few typical uses

qaleghneS	It is an honour to see you
SaleghneS	It is an honour to see you/ plural
qaqIHneS	It is an honour to meet you for the first time
SoHvaD jISuvneS	It am honoured to fight for you
Dochvam vIta'neS	It is an honour for me to do this
Dochvam vIta' 'e' Dachaw'neS'a'	Will you do me the honour of letting me do this

Otherwise, you're not likely either to need to say it - or, for that matter, hear it spoken to you.

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Expressing Uncertainty: -law'

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This is the fourth and last Type 6 qualification suffix.

-law' seemingly, apparently

This suffix allows the expression of doubt on the speaker's part. The speaker uses -law' when what is being observed might not be the thing that is happening.

One way of translating this kind of sentence is with the words apparently or seemingly. It can also be expressed as "think that" or "suspect that:-"

tlhIngan Soj vISoplaw'	I think that I am eating Klingon food
yIHmey bIHlaw'	I think that they are tribbles
chaq DaH lojmItvam wISoQnISlaw'	I think we may need to close this door now
ghorgh qaSlaw'pu' wanI'vam	When did this apparently happen?/ (could also possibly be translated as "When do you think this happened?")
nobvetlh qemlaw'ta' 'oSwI'	I suspect that the Emissary brought that gift
nuHmeyvam lo'law' tlhInganpu'	Klingons apparently use these weapons

Next: The Type 8 Suffix -neS.

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Clarity and Perfection: the Suffix -chu'

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-chu' clearly, perfectly

This Type 6 verb suffix is used to describe an action which is conducted perfectly, or demonstrates a quality in an exemplary manner.

jaghpu' tojchu'ta' tlhIngan ra'wI'	The Klingon Commander fooled the enemies perfectly
tayqeqDaj ghobmey 'oSchu'	He exemplifies his culture's virtues
Dochvetlh Data'chu'ta'	You did that perfectly
jIyajchu'	I clearly understand.
yajchu''a'	Does she understand clearly?
DapoHchu'ta'	You timed it perfectly

-chu' versus -qu'

The Type 6 suffix -chu' and the emphatic rover suffix -qu' seem to have a similar function. Similar, but not identical.

Whereas -chu' indicates that an action is being performed perfectly or flawlessly, -qu' has the effect of emphasising the property, quality or activity being conducted - whether it is exemplary or not.

An example could be something very bright (wovqu') as against something shining clearly (wovchu') - the former could be shining through smoke, visible but obscured; the latter could be shining clearly through any obscuring smoke.

Another way of thinking of the difference is that something does not need to be loud to be clear: chut maqqu' noHwI' The Judge proclaims the law could mean that he is delivering his words with emphasis, perhaps beating a sparking steel ball on a stone, but chut maqchu' noHwI' The Judge proclaims the law could indicate that the Judge is delivering a proclamation in such a way that the wording is clear, distinctive and absolutely unequivocal, even if the Judge is unable to speak more loudly than a hoarse whisper.

pIvchu'	He is perfectly healthy
pIvqu'	He is very healthy
Doqqu'	It is very red
Doqchu'	It is a perfect shade of red
qama' jonchu'	She captured the prisoner flawlessly
paQDI'norgh vIyajchu'	I understand the teachings clearly
yIjatlhchu'	Speak clearly!
jatlhchu' 'ach 'Ijchu'be'	She is good at talking ... not so good at listening
qaQoychu'	I hear you perfectly
qaQochbe'chu'	I agree with you totally

-chu' is also used to describe a combat action or challenge which, in this specific context, means to the death.

Qojchu'	They fight a war without quarter
DaH DIHIvchu'nIS	We must attack them now, and show no mercy
peSuvchuqchu'	Fight (one another to the death!)
jagh QIDchu'ta' SuvwI'	The warrior fatally wounded the enemy
DaqIpchu'	You hit him hard (fatally)

Sometimes, the two suffixes can be combined to indicate a most decisive action, carried out not only flawlessly but emphatically flawlessly - an action conducted in an exemplary manner.

To indicate this, the suffixes must be used in the order -chu'qu', with -qu' always placed immediately behind -chu' to emphasise the perfection of the action or quality.

jaj qeylIS molor mIgh Hohchu'qu'	The day Kahless slew the evil Molor
jajvetlh batlh maHeghchu'qu'	On that day, we shall perish honourably
SuSuvchu'qu'ta'	You fought in an exemplary manner
Qubchu'qu' tej	The scientist thought flawlessly

Next: -law' uncertainty.

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Expressing Certainty: -bej

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Here is the Type 6 verb suffix that you need to use to express certainty; that you are certain that something is taking place, or that something certainly has a given quality.

-bej certainly, undoubtedly

To express and assert certainty, for instance It is certainly big, She definitely fought honourably, they are undoubtedly hostile, use the Type 6 verb suffix -bej certainly, undoubtedly. If you are merely asserting a personal opinion - It is obviously big, She obviously fought honourably - use -ba' obviously instead.

jItlhab'eghmoHbejta'	I certainly did free myself
Datojbejpu'	You certainly fooled them.
Soj muj Sopbejpu'	She undoubtedly ate the wrong food.
nepwI' Dabej	He is definitely lying
voqHa''eghqa'bej	She is undoubtedly distrusting herself again.
jItorbe'bej	I will definitely not kneel
qojvetlh DatoSnISbej	You certainly must climb that cliff
nobvetlh qembejta' 'oSwI'	The Emissary definitely brought that gift

These suffixes can also be used with verbs which are used in the manner of adjectives.

tInbej	It's definitely big
bIbIrbej	You're definitely cold
jItunchoHbej	I am definitely getting soft
SomrawDu'wIj vIletnISqa'moHbej	I definitely must firm up my muscles again
tlhorghbej Sojvam	This food is certainly strong
ralbej Ha'DIbaHmeyvetlh	Those beasts are undoubtedly violent
rambej wanI'vam	This event is certainly trifling
potlhbe'bej vuDlIj	Your opinion is definitely unimportant

Note: Using -bej is the only way to express the opposite meaning of the adverbial chaq perhaps, maybe.

Next: -chu' clearly, perfectly.

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Type 6; Suffixes of Qualification

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Klingons are sometimes inaccurate; but they are never approximate. This is something we learned from the Power Klingon tape. How, then, does a Klingon express certainty, uncertainty or personal opinion?

By using the qualification Type 6 verb suffixes.

There are four Type 6 verb suffixes: -ba' obviously; -bej certainty; -chu' clearly, perfectly, and -law' seemingly, apparently, "I suspect that," "I think that." Each expresses a different form of qualification.

-ba' obviously

To express certainty based on personal opinion, e.g. "He is obviously lying," where there might be room for objective doubt, use the Type 6 verb suffix -ba' obviously. -ba' reflects a personal assertion - an opinion, rather than something known for a fact (that requires the suffix -bej instead).

jItlhab'eghmoHba'ta'	I obviously freed myself
bItoj'eghba'pu'	You obviously fooled yourself.
Soj muj Sopba'taH	She is obviously eating the wrong food.
nepwI' Daba'	He is obviously lying/ nepwI' a liar, Da act in the manner of
voqHa''eghqa'ba'	She is obviously distrusting herself again.

Qualification suffixes cannot generally be used with imperative commands.

Next: -bej certainty.

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Type 1 Suffix -chuq "One Another"

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Here is the second Type 1 reflexive suffix.

-chuq one another

When you want to describe an action being done to one another - They accidentally struck each other; you only fooled each other; We freed each other; Identify yourselves! - you use the Type 1 verb suffix -chuq one another.

When describing a verb with -chuq, the verb prefix indicating "no object" must be used. This suffix is only to be used with verbs using plural subject prefixes (we, you, they).

matlhabchuqmoHta'	We freed one another
Sutojchuqpu' neH	You only fooled each other
SuqelchuqlaHbe'	You cannot consider each other
bong qIpchuq	They accidentally hit one another
buSchuq	They thought of one another
tlhochchuq	They contradicted one another
Hoy'chuq	They congratulate one another
SumISchuqmoH neH	You only confuse yourselves
Qaw'chuqpu'	They destroyed each other
chaq voqHa'chuqqa'	Perhaps they are distrusting one another again

Just as with -'egh, so too can -chuq be used with imperative commands. Only the plural subject verb prefix with no object (pe-) can be used.

pe'oSchuq	Represent one another!
pejotchuqmoH	Calm one another!
peSeHchuq	Control one another!
petoDchuq	Save each other!
peSeHchuq	Control one another!
pebuSchuq	Focus on one another!

Next: Type 6 Suffixes - Suffixes of Qualification.

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Type 1 Verb Suffixes - Reflexive Suffixes

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We have, so far, covered verb suffixes of Type 2, 3, 4 and 5; the Type 7 aspect markers; and some of the Type 9 syntactic markers. Let's go through the rest of the verb suffixes, now, in order, starting with the Type 1 suffixes - which cover actions directed at oneself and one another, what would be called reflexive actions.

-'egh Oneself

If you want to describe something as applying to yourself - He accidentally struck himself; you only fooled yourself; I freed myself; Identify yourself! - you use the Type 1 verb suffix -'egh oneself.

A note on verb prefixes and -'egh: When describing a verb with -'egh, the verb prefix indicating "no object" must be used. Naturally, this suffix is only to be used with verbs using singular subject prefixes (I, you, him/her/it).

jItlhab'eghmoHta'	I freed myself
bItoj'eghpu' neH	You only fooled yourself.
bIqel'eghlaHbe'	You cannot consider yourself
bong qIp'egh	He accidentally hit himself
buS'egh neH	He thinks only of himself
tlhoch'egh	She contradicted herself
Hoy''egh	He congratulates himself
mIS'eghmoH neH	He only confused himself
Qaw''eghpu'	It destroyed itself
chaq voqHa''eghqa'	Perhaps she is distrusting herself again.

-'egh can also be used with imperative commands. Only the singular and plural subject verb prefix with no object (yI- and pe-) can be used.

Dochvetlh yIja''egh	Tell yourself that!
yI'oS'egh	Represent yourself!
yIjot'eghmoH	Calm yourself!
yISeH'egh	Control yourself!
yItoD'egh	Save yourself!
peSeH'egh	Control yourselves!
petoD'egh	Save yourselves!
pebuS'egh	Focus on yourselves!

Next: -chuq One another.

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Type 3 Suffix: -qa' Resume

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And now, the second and final Type 3 verb suffix.

-qa' resume

This verb suffix indicates that something had been happening, had stopped happening - and now has resumed. It is often translated as again, and occasionally re-.

paq yIlaDqa'	Read the book again!/ Reread the book!
Hoch vIghojnISqa'pu'	I had to relearn everything.
quv DabajnISqa'	You have to re-earn honour.
ramvam jInajtaHvIS qeylIS qa' vIghomqa' 'e' vItul	I hope that I will meet the spirit of Kahless again in my dreams tonight./ (literally, "while I dream")
tlhIngan Soj Sopqa'choH qama'	The prisoner's eating Klingon food again.
nuHIvqa'	They are attacking again!
tlhInganpu' vIyajqa'	I understand Klingons again.
tugh berghqa' tlhIngan	Soon, the Klingon became irritable again

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Type 3 Suffixes: -choH

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We've covered a number of different types of suffixes - all of the Type 2 suffixes, the type 4 causative suffix, the type 5 suffixes, the aspect marker type 7 suffixes and some of the type 9 syntactic markers.

Before moving on to the noun suffixes, we will now go through the rest of the non-rover, fixed regular suffixes, starting with the two Type 3 suffixes marking change; -choH change of state, change of direction and -qa' resume.

-choH change of state, change of direction

This verb suffix signals that a change of state has occurred. Often inaccurately described only as beginning, -choH can also signal the end of a thing; endings and destruction are changes, too. Another way of describing this change of state is by using some version of becoming.

jISopchoH	I start to eat
ghorgh tlhIngan Soj neH SopchoHtaH qama'	When did the prisoner start eating only Klingon food?
pay' tlhInganpu' SuvchoH jaghma'	Suddenly, our enemy attacked the Klingons/ (where prior to this, they had been attacking us)
DaH tlhIngan Hol vIyajchoH	Now I am beginning to understand Klingon
tagha' berghchoH tlhIngan	Finally, the Klingon became irritable

"Becoming" As Verb

When expressing becoming where the destination is a noun, rather than a change in state or quality, you use the Klingon verb moj become instead.

SuvwI' mojta' loDHom	The boy became a warrior.
nom lom moj jagh	The enemy quickly became a corpse.
jaghpu'chaj DImoj	We became their enemies
'oSwI' Damoj rIntaH	You have become their representative / emissary
pIn'a' Damoj DaneHchugh bIqeqnIStaH	To become a master, you've gotta keep practicing.

moj can even take the Type 3 suffix -choH; the implication is that, in a change of state, the subject became something else - for instance, shapeshifting:-

tlhIngan SuvwI' mojchoH novvetlh

That alien turned into a Klingon.

Next, -qa' resume.

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-laH - The Suffix Of Ability

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Previously, you learned that there are two Type 5 verb suffixes, and only two. You learned of the first Type 5 suffix, -lu' indefinite subject. Now it is time to learn of the other Type 5 suffix - a suffix which has absolutely nothing in common with -lu', apart from the fact that it is a Type 5 suffix, which means you can never append -lu' and -laH to the same verb.

-laH can, able

When you want to express that you can do something - that you have the capability to do the verb stated - you can use the other Type 5 suffix, -laH can, able.

jISop	I eat
tlhIngan Soj vISoplaH	I can eat Klingon food
tlhInganpu' DISuv	We fight Klingons
tlhInganpu' DISuvlaHbe'	We cannot fight Klingons
DIHIvlaHtaHvIS DaH DIHIvnIS	We must attack them now, while we still can/ (from Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country)
qaStaHvIS wa'ram loS SaD Hugh SIjlaH qetbogh loD	Four thousand throats can be slit in one night, by a running man /(Famous Klingon proverb)
loghDaq bIjachDI' DuQoylaH pagh	In space, no-one can hear you scream
yuch vISoplaH'a'	Can I have chocolate?/ (as in "Would it kill me if I tried to eat it?")
qaja'laHbe'	I cannot tell you/ (e.g. because I have been ordered not to)
qajanglaHbe'	I cannot tell you/ (I cannot reply, e.g. because I do not know the answer)
tlhIngan Hol DajatlhlaHchugh, vaj SoHvaD lojmItmey law' poSmoHlu'	The ability to speak Klingon opens many doors for you

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The Indefinite Subject: Type 5 Verb Suffix -lu'

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This suffix is the closest to the passive tense that tlhIngan Hol gets. Klingon sentences typically have a definite subject; but when the subject is unknown, undefined or something general (as in the saying "It is raining" where "it" is a general term, or "There is a book on the table"), you need a verb suffix to be able to express this.

That suffix is -lu'.

-lu' indefinite subject

There are only two Type 5 verb suffixes. -lu' is one. The other, -laH can, able does not have any commonality with -lu'. Since there is only one slot available for each type of verb suffix, -lu' and -laH can never be attached to the same instance of the verb.

-lu' indicates that the subject of the sentence is unknown, undisclosed, indefinite or general.

-lu' and Verb Prefixes

-lu' requires an exception to the way verb prefixes are normally used. The prefixes normally used to indicate a first- or second-person subject (I, we, you) and a third-person object (vI-, Da-, wI-, bo-) are used, instead, to indicate the first- or second-person object. The general effect is to indicate someone/something does the verb to me/you.

vIqIplu'ta'	I am hit!
Daleghlu'pu'	You have been seen
wIHIvlu'taH	We are under attack
boSeHlu'	You are all being controlled

With the third person, you can either use the prefix lu- for the plural them or, for the singular, nothing at all:-

qIplu'taH	Something is hitting it
muSlu'	She is hated
lughollu'lI'	Something is approaching them
luwamlu'lI'	They are being hunted
luSeHlu'	They are controlled

-lu' is very useful, not least for stunningly cheesy dialogue:-

ngaDmoHwI' qIplu'	The stabiliser's hit!
HoD Qollu'ta'	The Captain's been beamed away!
reH DalIjlu'taH	You will be forgotten, always
wIwamlu'lI'	We are being hunted

Alternative

If you don't like using -lu', you have an alternative: using the noun vay' someone, somebody, something, anyone, anybody, anything and the normal verb prefixes for a third-person subject and normal object (either mu-, Du-, nu-, lI-, nI-, lu- or nothing at all):-

muqIpta' vay'	I am hit!
Duleghpu' vay'	You have been seen
nuHIvtaH vay'	We are under attack
lISeH vay'	You are all being controlled
ngaDmoHwI' qIp vay'	The stabiliser's hit!
HoD Qolta' vay'	The Captain's been beamed away!
reH DulIjtaH vay'	You will be forgotten, always
wamlI' vay'	We are being hunted
ghollI' vay'	Something is approaching them

There is ...

When used in conjunction with the verb tu' find, observe and the third-person singular subject pronoun (in other words, nothing) the word tu'lu' is translated as there is, in the sense of "there is danger here" or "There is a forest nearby":-

naDev Qob tu'lu'	There is danger here
ngem tu'lu'. Sum	There is a forest. It is nearby
naDev nuH tu'lu'	There is a weapon here

Before moving on to the next Type 5 suffix, -laH can, able there will be a brief diversion to the topic of location - here, there, somewhere and everywhere.

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Movers and Doers: The Suffixes -moH and -wI'

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This information doesn't feature strongly in The Klingon Dictionary, but it has become an established part of tlhIngan Hol grammar nonetheless.

This article is about two verb suffixes - the Type 4 verb suffix -moH cause, and the Type 9 verb suffix -wI' thing or person which does, doer.

-moH cause

This Type 4 verb suffix - there is only one Type 4 suffix, and -moH is it - indicates that the subject is causing a change of condition or causing a new condition to come into existence. This turns it into a verb of action or activity where there is expected to be a direct object, e.g. chen take form, take shape becomes chenmoH form, shape (something) or gives form to (something).

chung	accelerate
chungmoH	(cause to) speed up
DIng	spin
DIngmoH	spin (deliberately cause to spin)
ghoS	approach
ghoSmoH	draw, attract, lure, entice
He'	smell, emit odour
He'moH	cause a smell
He'So'	stink
He'So'moH	make a stink
DoH	back off, back away from
DoHmoH	repel

Where -moH comes into its own, however, is when it is used in conjunction with an adjectival verb, e.g. be vertical, be stable:-

ghuH	be prepared, be alerted
ghuHmoH	alert, warn
tuQ	be dressed
tuQmoH	to dress
tuQHa'	be undressed
tuQHa'moH	to undress, to disrobe
Hab	smooth, be smooth
HabmoH	to smooth
Hegh	die
HeghmoH	be fatal
ngaD	stable, be stable
ngaDmoH	stabilise
yoy	upside down, be upside down, inverted
yoymoH	invert
tuj	be hot
tujmoH	heat up
meQ	burn
meQmoH	ignite
bIr	be cold
bIrmoH	to chill, to cool
taD	frozen, be frozen
taDmoH	freeze
taDHa'	thawed, be thawed
taDHa'moH	defrost, thaw out
HoS	be strong
HoSmoH	strengthen
puj	weak, be weak
pujmoH	weaken

-wI' thing which does, person who does, doer

-wI' is a Type 9 syntactic marker applied to verbs. It basically turns the verb it is attached to into a noun, the thing which does or person which does. -wI' is used to describe people from a surprisingly diverse variety of jobs and careers:-

Qum	communicate
QumwI'	communicator
bav	orbit
bavwI'	orbiter (e.g. a vehicle)/ note: there is already a word SIbDoH, meaning satellite)
SIj	slit
SIjwI'	slitter
meQ	burn
meQwI'	burner
chung	accelerate
chungwI'	accelerator
mup	strike
mupwI'	striker
SeH	control
SeHwI'	controller
lIng	generate
lIngwI'	generator
leng	roam, rove, wander
lengwI'	rover, wanderer
nej	probe
nejwI'	probe/ (e.g. a space probe)
mutlh	put together, construct/ (as in the construction industry)
mutlhwI'	builder
nIH	steal
nIHwI'	thief
chot	commit murder
chotwI'	murderer
HeS	commit crime
HeSwI'	criminal
bIv	break rules, infract
bIvwI'	lawbreaker
ngor	cheat
ngorwI'	a cheat
vum	work, toil, labour
vumwI'	worker, labourer
wIj	farm
wIjwI'	farmer
poch	plant
pochwI'	planter
'oS	represent
'oSwI'	emissary/ (perhaps also "symbol?")
yu'	question, interrogate
yu'wI'	interrogator
joy'	torture
joy'wI'	torturer
Suv	fight
SuvwI'	warrior
vu'	manage
vu'wI'	manager
ra'	command
ra'wI'	Commander
Dor	escort
DorwI'	escort
Dev	lead, guide
DevwI'	leader
che'	rule, reign
che'wI'	ruler

-moHwI'

When a verb has both -moH and -wI' together, even though grammatically you could put other suffixes (of Types 5 through 8) between these Type 4 and Type 9 suffixes, in practice one never does that because, as -moHwI' turns the verb into a noun, whatever else you need to modify the word can be applied after -wI' in the form of noun suffixes.

ghuHmoHwI'	the alarm
tuQHa'moHwI'	stripper, undresser
HabmoHwI'	smoother
ngaDmoHwI'	stabiliser
yoymoHwI'	inverter
tujmoHwI'	heater
meQmoHwI'	igniter
bIrmoHwI'	chiller
taDmoHwI'	freezer
taDHa'moHwI'	defroster
HoSmoHwI'	strengthener
pujmoHwI'	inhibitor

As with other -wI' suffixes above, objects and people denoted by -moHwI' must be considered as nouns, and can take noun suffixes:-

ghuHmoHwI'vetlh chu'ta' vay'	Someone has triggered that alarm
ngugh pawpu' tuQHa'moHwI'qoqpu'	And then the so-called strippers arrived
QapHa'lI' ngaDmoHwI'vam	This stabiliser is failing
yoymoHwI'mey yIchu'	Activate the inverters!

The suffix combination -moHwI' turns out to be an extremely versatile combination, which can be used alongside the separate suffixes -moH and -wI' to describe a huge variety of tools, devices and people.

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