[tlhIngan Hol] Klingon Word of the Day: matlh

[Steven Boozer]

Klingon Word of the Day for Sunday, May 23, 2021

Klingon word: matlh
Part of speech: verb
Definition: be loyal
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qorDu' SaHlu'chugh 'ej matlhlu'chugh vaj wa' tlhIngan ghob potlhqu' 
devotion and loyalty to family is one of the most important Klingon virtues. S13

matlh SuvwI'pu' 
Warriors are loyal. KGT

yoHbogh matlhbogh je SuvwI' Say'moHchu' may' 'Iw 
The blood of battle washes clean the warrior brave and true. (Anthem)

yab matlh muvchuqghach Sorgh vay' 'e' vIbotjaj. 
Let me not to the marriage of true minds admit impediments. (Sonnet 116)

LANGUAGE NOTES:
(KGT 60):  For a minority of Klingons who pronounce both {b} and {m} identically, as {m}, the words {betleH} and {meqleH} sound almost the same, especially when shouted in the heat of battle. Because of the importance of the bat'leth in Klingon tradition, however, they have taken to calling the bat'leth {betleH quv} (pronounced {metleH quv}), or "honored bat'leth," while the mek'leth is {meqleH matlh}, or "loyal mek'leth" 

CULTURAL NOTES:
(KGT 77):  A {van bom} … is sung at occasions where it is appropriate to express one's feelings of loyalty and dedication to someone or something.

  "I am a loyal soldier of the Empire. I would rather die than dishonor my uniform." (General Martok, DS9 "Tacking Into the Wind")

TREK TRIVIA:
  "A starship also runs on loyalty to one man, and nothing can replace it or him." (Spock to Kirk, TOS "The Ultimate Computer")

SEE:
matlh  		Maltz (PN) 
(TKW 93):  After Admiral Kirk killed Klingon commander Kruge and took over his bird-of-prey, Maltz, the sole surviving Klingon crew member of that ship, requested that he be killed rather than be taken prisoner. To Maltz’s chagrin, Kirk refused to do so.

Presumably this is why Okrand chose {matlh} to mean {be loyal}.

SEE ALSO:
'Il 		be sincere (v)
yuDHa' 		be honest (v)

--
Voragh, Ca'Non Master of the Klingons
    Please contribute relevant vocabulary from the last year or two. I’ve fallen 
    behind in updating my files and adding cross-references for related words.