On Wed, 27 May 2020 at 18:38, Daniel Dadap <daniel@dadap.net> wrote:


> On May 27, 2020, at 10:23, Lieven L. Litaer <levinius@gmx.de> wrote:
>
> Even thought {nuH} is defined as "possibility" in the list, there still
> is the /regular/ word {DuH}, of which I think it should be preferred in
> usage wherever possible.
>

I suspect that this particular metaphor, beyond being another example of Klingon fondness for bellicose metaphor in general, is also influenced in part by the near homophony of {nuH} and {NuH} in Qotmagh and other dialects which nasalize voiced stops. Consider also {chab chu'}.

KGT p.110:
<The use of {nuH} ("weapon") for {DuH} ("possibility") may have been influenced by the Krotmag dialect pronunciation of {DuH} as something very close to {nuH}.>

--
De'vID