[tlhIngan Hol] Klingon Word of the Day: bom

[Steven Boozer]

Klingon Word of the Day for Friday, December 04, 2020

Klingon word: bom
Part of speech: verb
Definition: sing, chant
_______________________________________________

bomDI' 'IwwIj qaqaw 
The memory of you sings in my blood 
("When my blood sings, I remember you"). TKW

may' bom pIm bom 
sing a different battle song [IDIOM] (KGT)
(idiom: "speak of another matter entirely") 

DaH may' bom pIm Dabom 
Now you sing a different battle song.
(Well, that's another matter altogether.) KGT

may' bom pIm wIbom
We sing a different battle song. KGT

may' bom pIm lubom 
They sing a different battle song. KGT

bom; puq rur 
sing falsetto (qep’a’ 2020)

(KGT 71):  The Klingon word for music is {QoQ}. This refers to any music, vocal or instrumental or both together. A song is a {bom}, and to sing a song is likewise {bom}. The set of lyrics to a song is termed {bom mu'} (literally, "song word" or "song words"). The word for "perform music," whether instrumental or vocal and instrumental together, is {much}, which in other contexts means "present," as an "present a gift" to someone. A musician is a {muchwI'} (literally, "one who performs music"); a singer is a {bomwI'} ("one who sings").

(KGT 77):  It is never inappropriate to burst into song (there is a special verb for this: {wup}) and sing a {may' bom}. At any social gathering, in addition to eating and drinking, there is no question that there will also be singing.

(TKW 15):   songs are a very important part of Klingon culture, for it is through song that much history—both political and personal—is preserved. Great accomplishments are commonly immortalized in song, as are Klingon attitudes. Because songs are repeated, the same way proverbs are repeated, they help to preserve tradition as well as to teach the young. The singing of a song typically marks an occasion as momentous. Appropriately, Gowron tried to get Worf to join his cause by referring to this element of Klingon culture: “We will do great deeds in the coming days, deeds worthy of song.” Klingons are also well known for their extensive collection of drinking songs.

(KGT 78):  The drinking songs are always sung loudly (this would probably be described by using the term {pe'vIl} [forcefully]), seldom with instrumental accompaniment, and they tend to be rather lengthy ({nI'}) and from a non-Klingon perspective, repetitive.

(KGT 129f.):   The association of thirst with singing is probably due to the custom of accompanying drinking with singing and the usual practice of continuing both of these activities for a great length of time.

(Lieven, qepHom 2018):   [{Huy} "hum"] can be used both for singing without words and for the sound a (not huge) engine makes.

TREK TRIVIA:
   “My friends, songs will be sung about this day.” (Martok to Sisko and Adm. Ross before the Federation Alliance’s final assault on Dominion Forces on Cardassia Prime, DS9 “What We Leave Behind, Pt. I”)

SEE:
bom  		song,  chant (n) 
   bang bom 	   love song 
   chon bom 	   hunting song 
   Dap bom 	   nonsense song 
   HIvje' bom 	   drinking song 
   may' bom 	   battle song
   van bom 	   hymn, anthem

bom mu'  	lyric,  lyrics (n)
bomwI'  	singer (n)

SEE ALSO:
wup 		burst into song (v)
much 		present, perform (music) (v)
Huy 		hum (v)
Hampun 	yodel (v)
  -  “This is a two-syllable verb, and it’s slang” (qep’a’ 2020)


[Feel free to mention any relevant vocabulary or usage notes from
 the last year or so. I’ve fallen woefully behind in updating my notes.]
--
Voragh
Ca'Non Master of the Klingons