From: mayqel qunen'oS
We have {Duj} for "instinct/instinct". There are two kinds of "instinct":
1. The "gut feeling"; e.g. "my instincts tell me ancient cats are expensive" 2. The actual instinct; e.g. survival instinct, reproductive instinct, etc
So, which of the two is {Duj} ?
Generally number 1, in the sense of one's intuition or gut feeling. Notice that the gloss was "instincts" - plural not singular - which is how it's used in English. Here is Okrand on instincts: (TKW 27): The Klingon word for instincts is {Duj}, and it is grammatically correct to treat it as singular (a bundle or collection of instincts) or plural (individual instincts). vaj Duj chIj "navigate a warrior ship" KGT (KGT 113-115): This is a way to say have strength of character. This sense clearly came about because of the existence in Klingon of two words pronounced {Duj}, one meaning ship, vessel, the other meaning instincts. If {Duj} is taken in its 'ship' sense, then {vaj Duj} means warrior ship, something that is certainly appropriate to navigate ({chIj}). On the other hand, if {Duj} is taken to mean instincts, then {vaj Duj} means warrior instincts and the phrase {vaj Duj chIj} (navigate warrior instincts) makes no sense unless interpreted idiomatically. <...> It is noteworthy that in this idiom the word for warrior is not the frequently heard {SuvwI'}, which would denote an individual warrior, but rather is {vaj}, which refers to the whole idea of being a warrior. Thus, when {Duj} is taken to mean instincts, {vaj Duj} refers to the instincts associated with being a warrior or the instincts needed for combat; {SuvwI' Duj} would mean the instincts of a specific warrior. Duj tIvoqtaH Always trust your instincts. TKD DujlIj yIvoq Trust your instincts. TKW Although note the phrase "by instinct" Okrand translated in the paq'batlh: QaQ qeylIS Duj ghe'tor 'elmeH yapbe' may' 'e' Sovchu' Kahless knows by instinct A fight will not suffice To enter the land of the dead. PB Literally "Kahless's instincts are good..." All that being said, I would certainly understand *{taHmeH Duj / yInmeH Duj} or *{nga'chuqmeH Duj / ngaghmeH Duj}. Whether that's the way Maltz would say it is another matter... -- Voragh