[tlhIngan Hol] why we shouldn't do transcriptions

[Felix Malmenbeck]

Yes, it should be up to the translator, and depend on the intention of the translation:

Is the writer role-playing as a Klingon? Or pretending to be writing for an audience of Klingons?


Is the text aimed at new readers or experienced ones?
Is it actually being used to communicate, or is it being used as ornamentation?


Is it important that the text can be transliterated into pIqaD?
Is it important that the Terran words fit seamlessly into the written text?

Is it important that the Terran words fit seamlessly into the spoken translation?


In this sense, it isn't much different from writing in one's own first language; you use one style when writing for preschoolers, another when writing an e-mail to friends, still another when writing a scholarly article, and something different entirely when writing a post-modern rhyming parody of recapitulation theory.


> That's true, I agree. What bothers me most is that we now have a non
> canon word in this episode of Family Guy that could have been avoided.


That's always going to happen, though; from "GARR'DACK!" on The Simpsons, to "Krish-krush!" on Frasier, not to mention the mountains of Paramount Hol we have from official Star Trek productions.


I'm all for keeping close track of what is and what isn't canon, so that we have a common reference point to start from, but I don't think we should restrict our use of the language to suit people who clearly don't have much interest in learning it, anyway.


"Canon is the beginning of wisdom; not the end."

 ~ Spock, ca. 2293


//loghaD


________________________________
From: tlhIngan-Hol <tlhingan-hol-bounces at lists.kli.org> on behalf of mayqel qunen'oS <mihkoun at gmail.com>
Sent: Thursday, February 27, 2020 14:21
To: tlhIngan Hol mailing list
Subject: Re: [tlhIngan Hol] why we shouldn't do transcriptions

fse:

Of course, don't get me wrong..

I respect each person's choice to transliterate; after all that's why there's that beautiful button, called "delete", right ?

But I remember once, trying to read the previously mentioned gospel, only to end up nearly smashing my computer against the wall, unable to make sense of the transliterations..

tlh:

'ach, HIyajHa'Qo'..

DIvI' Hol ngutlhmey tam vay' neHchugh, vaj DIbDaj 'oH, 'ej vIvuv. 'ej meqvammo', leQvetlh 'IH tu'lu', "delete" leQ, qar'a' ?

'ach, gospel Dellu'pu'bogh vIlaDmeH pa'logh jInIDta', 'ej tugh tlhoS tlhoy'Daq De'wI'wIj vIvo'ta', tamtaHghachmey vIyajlaHbe'pu'mo'..

~ mayqel qunen'oS
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