[tlhIngan Hol] Klingon Word of the Day: Don

Steven Boozer sboozer at uchicago.edu
Mon Dec 12 07:57:05 PST 2022


Klingon Word of the Day for Monday, December 12, 2022

Klingon word: Don
Part of speech: verb
Definition: be parallel, go parallel to
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(De'vId, 11/16/2014):  While {Don} means “be parallel,” {DonHa’} does not mean “be perpendicular.” It means something like “be misaligned.” The word for “be perpendicular” is {leD} and it’s normally used with a plural subject:  {leD rav tlhoy’ je} “the floor and the wall are perpendicular (to each other).” The word {leD} is also used to indicate a right angle: {tajvaj leD}. 

(De'vID, 11/19/2014):  I actually specifically asked [Okrand] about how to use {Don}, and whether {DonHa'} means "perpendicular". The reason I asked about {Don} is that it's defined as both "be parallel" and "go parallel to", suggesting it can either take a plural subject (?{Don rav, rav'eq je}) or an object (?{'entepray' Don Qo'noS wa'}). He answered with {leD}, which he explained is normally used with plural subjects (implying it doesn't take an object). Does that make {Don} and {leD} a pair of words which one might expect to be parallel, but actually aren't quite – that is, as if they were misaligned ({DonHa'})? :-) I think that's part of the joke." 

TREK NOTES:
  "We are on a parallel course with [the asteroid-ship] Yonada" (TOS "For the World is Hollow and I Have Touched the Sky")

  An unnamed Klingon D-7 maintained a parallel course with the Enterprise to Troyius. 
"He's paralleling us again." (Spock, TOS "Elaan of Troyius")

SEE:
DonHa'  	be misaligned (v) 

SEE ALSO:
SaS 		be horizontal (v)
leD 		be perpendicular (v)
nech 		be lateral, move laterally (v)
taH 		be at a negative angle (v)
tom 		be tilted (v)
lol 		be in an attitude (v)

HeDon 		parallel course (n)
tajvaj 		angle (n)

--
Voragh, Ca'Non Master of the Klingons
    Please contribute relevant vocabulary from recent qep’a’mey 
    or qepHommey. I’ve fallen woefully behind in updating my files.




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