[tlhIngan Hol] Klingon Word of the Day: peng

[Steven Boozer]

> Klingon Word of the Day for Monday, September 05, 2016
> 
> Klingon word: peng
> Part of speech: noun
> Definition: torpedo, missile

pengmey 
torpedoes all over the place TKD

'otlh peng Qeq 
He aims the photon torpedo. PK

'otlh peng Qeqchu' 
He aims the photon torpedo perfectly. PK

peng baHjan tuj ghImwI' 
heat exhaust for torpedo launcher. KBoP

'otlh peng baHjan 
photon torpedo launcher KBoP

peng baHjan tuj ghImwI' 
heat exhaust for torpedo launcher. KBoP

KGT 56f.:  Ships are also equipped with an explosive weapon called a {peng}, usually translated as torpedo, though missile might work just as well. The plural form of {peng} is a different word, {cha}. A {peng} is launched from a tube usually called a {DuS}, but another term, {chetvI'}, is also used, the distinction having something to do with how the projectile is actually loaded into the tube. The verb used for launch or fire a weapon of this type is {baH}, and there is even a special word, {ghuS}, meaning "prepare to launch". The warhead of the torpedo is called its {jorneb}...

TKD 36f.:  There is, it should be noted, a verb {ghuS} which means "to be prepared to launch or project (something)". This verb never takes the suffix {-rup}. It is used primarily in reference to torpedoes--so much so that if the object is not specifically stated, and context does not dictate otherwise, it is always assumed to be torpedoes. According, both of the following sentences mean "Be prepared to launch torpedoes!" or "Stand by on torpedoes!": {cha yIghuS}, {yIghuS}.

KGT 33:  Another grammatical feature of Klingon about which children frequently become confused involves nouns that are inherently plural, such as {cha} (torpedoes) and {ngop} (plates [for eating]), as opposed to their singular counterparts {peng} (torpedo) and {jengva'} (plate). Instead of using the special plural forms, children tend forms plurals of these words by simply adding the plural suffix {-mey} to the singular forms ({pengmey, jengva'mey}), as would be done with most other nouns ... Adults also add {-mey} to these nouns, but they do so to indicate that the items are scattered about ({jengva'mey}, "plates scattered all over the place"). ... Children seem to be aware of the existence of the inherently plural forms, however, for they use them as well, though usually with the suffix {-mey} superfluously appended: {chamey} (torpedoeses), {ngopmey} (plateses). Inherently plural nouns are considered singular as far as how they fit into the overall grammatical structure.

The IKC Somraw was equipped with photon torpedoes (*pu'DaH dak cha*), which Enterprise armaments officer Reed had never heard of in 2151. (ENT "Sleeping Dogs")

Two types of torpedo found on the B'rel-class Bird-of-Prey are the {pach peng} "Talon's Strike" and {moratlh ro'} "Morath's Fist" (torpedo). (BOP Haynes)


--
Voragh
tlhIngan ghantoH pIn'a'
Ca'Non Master of the Klingons