[tlhIngan Hol] Klingon Word of the Day: nenghep

[Steven Boozer]

Klingon word: 	nenghep
Part of speech: 	noun
Definition: 	Age of Ascension
Source: 	ADD
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qaSDI' nenghep, qa' patlh chu' chav tlhIngan SuvwI' 
The Age of Ascension marks a new level of spiritual attainment by a Klingon warrior. (S9)

'oy'naQ Dalo'be'chugh not nenghep lop puq 
If you don't use the painstik, the child will never celebrate his Age of Ascension. (TKW)

LANGUAGE NOTES:
(KGT 198):  "Most older children drop the {-oy} around the time of their Age of Ascension, though some continue to use it even after that, especially when addressing the parent of the opposite sex.

CULTURAL NOTES:
  The Klingon Rite of Passage during the fifteenth year of a Klingon's life marking a new level of spiritual attainment for a warrior. The ritual involves a recitation by the ascendee, proclaiming "{DaHjaj SuvwI''e' jIH. tIqwIj Sa'angnIS. 'Iw bIQtIqDaq jIjaH.}" ("Today I am a Warrior. I must show you my heart. I travel the River of Blood.") The warrior then strides between two lines of other Klingons, who subject him or her to painsticks while the warrior is expected to express his or her most profound feelings while under this extreme duress. Worf underwent his Age of Ascension ritual at age 15 in 2355. In 2365, Worf celebrated the anniversary of his Age of Ascension with his Enterprise-D crewmates. Worf's brother Kurn was not told that he was a son of Mogh until his Age of Ascension in 2360. Until that point, Kurn believed that he was the son of Lorgh. (TNG "The Icarus Factor", TNG "Sins of the Father", TNG "Firstborn").

(TKW 110):  Upon reaching a certain age, the Age of Ascension, a young Klingon undergoes a rite of passage symbolizing the attainment of a certain spiritual level. After intoning the three ancient and sacred phrases recorded above, the initiate, while walking along a path lined by painstik-wielding warriors, expresses his or her deepest feelings.

SEE:
nen  			growth,  maturation (n)
nen  			be mature, grown-up, adult (v) 
nenchoH  		mature,  grow up (v)

nentay  			Rite of Ascension (n)
nentay wa'DIch  	First Rite of Ascension (n)
nentay cha'DIch  	Second Rite of Ascension (n)

SEE ALSO:
peHghep  		Age of Inclusion (n)
  -   The sixth year of a Klingon's life. Worf had not yet reached the Age of Inclusion when he was orphaned at Khitomer. (TNG "Heart of Glory")

--
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.