[tlhIngan Hol] difference between the nouns {Segh} and {mut}

[Steven Boozer]

AFAIK there are no examples of {mut} in canon so I don’t know why De’vID says that “{mut} seems to refer only to biological organisms” but the English word certainly does.   Here’s what I have in my notes:

mut                      species (n)

(KGT 132):  Another set of similes link humanoid species of various kinds to certain qualities …
"We are similar as a species." (Kor, TOS "Errand of Mercy")

Segh                     race  (type, sort, class) (n)

Hem tlhIngan Segh 'ej maHemtaH 'e' wIHech
Klingons are a proud race, and we intend to go on being proud. (TKW)
batlh tlhIngan Segh yIHub
Defend the Klingon race with honor. (ST5 notes)
Segh:    bI'rel tlharghDuj
Model: B'rel Scout  (KBoP Poster) [a.k.a. the B’rel-class scout]
(KGT 41):  The upper classes, for their part, incorporate a few archaic words into their speech. This is true among all age groups in the upper classes. It may be considered a sign of erudition and respect for tradition; it does not represent an aversion to change."
(KGT 42):  Similarly, the common word for teacup is {Dargh HIvje'} (literally, 'tea drinking vessel'). Among the upper classes, the word {tu'lum} is used with some frequency, though, strictly speaking, this archaic word used to mean only a cup made of metal. … Among the lower classes — except for those working as servants for the higher classes — words like … {tu'lum} are known but seldom used...
Advocate Kolos told Archer that the “warrior class” has taken control of Klingon society (ca. 2130). (ENT "Judgment")
(KGT 153):  … the *Hur'q*, a race of humanoids from the Gamma Quadrant
And there are also words like {ghantoH} “model, example, pattern” and {DI’on} “characteristic, trait” to factor in.

--
Voragh

From: tlhIngan-Hol On Behalf Of De'vID
On Thu, 27 Jan 2022 at 13:06, mayqel qunen'oS <mihkoun at gmail.com<mailto:mihkoun at gmail.com>> wrote:
Can an American please explain to me, what the difference is between the noun {Segh} and the noun {mut}?

According to Ca'Non:

Segh (n) "race (type, sort, class)"
mut (n) "species"

In science fiction movies/series I've heard both "the survival of the human race" and "the survival of the human species", so I can't understand what's the difference between these two.

Does an American "feel" any difference between these two words? And I ask for the opinion of Americans, because 'oqranD is an American too, so I'm trying to understand what he means by each of these two words.

I'm not an American, but {Segh} can be used for ships (the BoP poster has {Segh: bI'rel tlharghDuj}) into addition to {tlhIngan Segh}, whereas {mut} seems to refer only to biological organisms.

{tlhIngan Segh} has been used in canon to refer generally to Klingons, but I would expect {tlhIngan mut} to be used only in scientific contexts.
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