[tlhIngan Hol] Klingon Word of the Day: QeDpIn

[Steven Boozer]

> Klingon Word of the Day for Tuesday, May 09, 2017
> 
> Klingon word: QeDpIn
> Part of speech: noun
> Definition: science officer
> Source: TKD

KGT 53:  There are a number of words employed to describe the specific functions performed by officers on a ship, but none of these is used as a title. For example, the science officer is the {QeDpIn}, the communications officer is the {QumpIn}, the weapons officer is the {nuHpIn}, the engineering officer is the {jonpIn}, the tactical officer is the {ya}, and the helmsman is the {DeghwI'}. It is not correct, however, to say {qImlaq ya} (Tactical Officer K'mlak). On the other hand, one might say, {ya ghaH qImlaq Sogh'e'" (Lieutenant K'mlak is the tactical officer).

KGT 158-59:  The word {pIn} is literally "boss" ... The word {pIn} is also found in nonslang terms referring to crew members on a ship: {QeDpIn} (science officer), {QumpIn} (communications officer). It is not known whether these words originated as slang and became accepted as the regular terms or whether the use of {pIn} in the sense of "expert, authority" was modeled after the words {QeDpIn} and {QumpIn}. Note that for the crew terms, in one case {pIn} follows a noun ({QeD}, "science" thus, {QeDpIn} is "science boss"), but in the other, it follows what is found elsewhere only as a verb ({Qum}, "communicate"), suggesting that there may have been a noun {Qum} ("communication") at some point in the past



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