[tlhIngan Hol] Klingon Word of the Day: woQ

Steven Boozer sboozer at uchicago.edu
Tue Dec 31 07:46:22 PST 2019


Klingon word: woQ
Part of speech: noun
Definition: authority, political power
_______________________________________________

ngoQvam luchavmeH ghawran maghpu' be'nI'pu'.  woQ luSuqmeH jIjpu' chaH romuluSngan'e' je. 
To this end, the sisters have acted against Gowron, going as far as to work with Romulan factions
 in order to gain power. (S26)

'ej Hoch vengHomDaq Hoch vengDaq je 
    Suchbogh ghaH qeylIS luQoy 
    woQ le'yo' je 'aghbej ghaH 
And Kahless spoke to them
   In every village and city he went,
   Filled with pride and authority,  (PB)

molor HoSghaj woQ 
   luDoQ
   'el chaH 'e' lupoQ 
In the name
   Of Molor the Mighty,
   Demanding to get in.  (PB)


(KGT 157):  Literally meaning "cape", this slang term is an example of metonymy, whereby one word (or phrase) stands for another with which it is associated. In this case, the leader of the Klingon High Council typically wears a ceremonial cape. The slang sense of {ngup} does not refer only to this position on the High Council, however, but to anyone in power or even to "the power structure." Someone unsatisfied with the status quo, a rebel, might be said to want to {ngup qaD} (challenge those in charge; literally, "challenge the cape"). Nonslang equivalents of {ngup} are {woQ} (authority, political power) and {qum} (government).

(KGT 16):  Within the land mass are distinct areas, some of which are demarcated geographically (divided by a mountain range, for example), while the boundaries of others seem rather arbitrary, the result, no doubt, of ancient power struggles.

(HQ 12.3:9):  The idea expressed by "exceed one's authority" might be translated {wogh} "transgress, do more than is acceptable".  {bIwogh}, literally "you transgress" or "you do more than is acceptable", is probably best translated idiomatically as "you go too far". 

(TKW 118 ill.):  Secure in his power as military governor of Organia, Kor gloats over his captive.

SEE:
woQ'a'  	ultimate power (n)

SEE ALSO:
HoS 		power, energy (n)
loH 		administration (n)
HI'tuy 		dictatorship (n)
cho' 		succession (n)

cho' 		succeed [to authority] (v)
Sugh 		install [in office] (v)
gheS 		assume duties of, take on responsibilities (v)
lu 		fall from power (v)
Son 		relieve (v)

--
Voragh
Ca'Non Master of the Klingons




More information about the tlhIngan-Hol mailing list