[tlhIngan Hol] Klingon Word of the Day: meq

[Steven Boozer]

Klingon word: 	meq
Part of speech: 	verb
Definition: 	reason
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ram meqmey 
Motives are insignificant. (TKW)

DaH naDev jIHtaHbogh meq Saja' 
Now I will tell you why I am here. (PB)

Later glossed "topic, subject, theme (of a conversation, story, etc.)" (qep'a' 2018); "logic" (Klingon Blockly).

(qep'a' 2018, in re {ghanroq} "basis, foundation"):  underlying support for an idea, argument, or process, depending on context, could also be {meq} or {qolqoS} 

See {mo'} "motive, motivation, grounds, reason, rationale" (slang):

(KGT 154):  [{mo’}] literally means cage, suggesting that one's reasons for accomplishing a particular act are somehow restrictive or confining, as if preventing escape into other forms of behavior. The slang meaning is no doubt also influenced by the noun suffix {-mo'} (due to, as in {HeSmo'}, "due to the crime") and verb suffix {-mo'} (because, as in {HIvmo'} ["because he/she attacks"]). The slang term {mo'} is used in sentences such as {jaghpu' mo' wIyajnIS} ("We must understand the enemies' motive"; literally, "We must understand the enemies' cage"). A close standard equivalent is {meq} (reason)--that is, logical thinking.

CULTURAL NOTES:
 (TKW 143):  Klingons may not care whether a falsehood is intentional, but only whether the information is reliable. As Ambassador Kell admonished Worf, "Motives? Who cares for motives? Humans, perhaps." (TNG "The Mind's Eye") This attitude is reflected in a proverb: {ram meqmey} "Motives are insignificant". 

TREK TRIVIA:
  “Logic is the cement of our civilization, with which we ascend from chaos using reason as our guide." (T’Plana-Hath, the “Matron of Vulcan philosophy”, ST4 & ENT “The Forge”)

SEE:
meq  		reason,  think logically (v)
  - (qepHom 2017):  For logic, use the verb {meq}. It's a verb that means, among other things, think logically. I think Klingons would use a verb when talking about types of thinking rather than a noun. For emotions, you can use the verb {tIw}. This means react emotionally, behave emotionally.

meqba'  	*mek'ba* (type of legal proceeding) (n)
  - i.e. that portion of a Klingon trial or appeal in which evidence is heard during which all evidence must be heard in open council [cf. TNG "Sins of the Father"]

ngoQ 		goal, purpose (n)
vIt 		truth (n)
ghu’ 		situation, proposal (n)

Hech 		intend, mean to (v)
Qub 		think (v)
Har 		believe (v)
Sov 		know (v)
'aq 		predict (based on deductive reasoning or science) (v)

Cf. also the idiom {notlh tonSaw'lIj} "Your argument is invalid." (qep'a' 2012)

tera'ngan mu'mey noy:
   “It is useless to attempt to reason a man out of a thing he never was reasoned into.” (Jonathan Swift)  
   "You cannot reason with a tiger when your head is in its mouth." (Winston Churchill condemning the appeasement of Nazi Germany)

--
Voragh, Ca'Non Master of the Klingons
    Please contribute relevant vocabulary or notes from the last 
    year or two. I’ve fallen woefully behind in updating my files.