Klingon Fan Names [Recasting-Transliiterating-Translating]

[zephyr]

My partner and I have named our daughter B'Elanna, after the star trek character, is there a translation or meaning? people keep asking me and as much as i like saying its a pretty name i would like to know more about it. Thanx  

[ngabwI]

AFAIK, no, there is no translation of "B'Elanna", at least in {tlhIngan Hol}. It's just a name. As you say, it's pretty, and in the end, that's all that really matters, qar'a'?  
[qar'a'- means 'Is it accurate? or "Right?"-Klythe]

Congratulations on your daughter!

And if you could tell me how you talked your mate into agreeing to that name, I'd love to hear it. My wife would never in a million years agree to a Trek-based name. }}: )

HovpoH 701483.4

[SoplaHtaHwI']

Not many Klingon names that are in canon sources have a meaning in {tlhIngan Hol}. I presume that, not unlike the Klingon script we see in canon, names have a predominantly aesthetic value.

First and foremost a name is a label that makes recognition easier.
I personally would feel much more for naming a child after a few years, when it has had time to develop a personality, but that would bring with it some logistic problems... 8-)

[Kesvirit]

As written, it doesn't mean anything.  Most on-screen Klingon names and words don't. Even when I adjust the spelling into "proper" {tlhIngan Hol} (in which "'" is a letter) and break it down into morphemes and parts-of-speech I still get gibberish.

Perhaps a more skilled wordsmith could make something of it by experimenting with the spelling...

-=- Kesvirit

[SoplaHtaHwI']

I think that, as there is no known meaning to B'elanna and the question did not include a request to make one up (which in my opinion is a bad idea anyway), we should not try to do this.

The name does not have a meaning. The only people able to put a meaning to the name are the bearer and both/ either givers, I would suggest.

[arron2211]

could somebody help me with the conversion of the names
jade, dylan, shaun, and danny as my sister just had quads and thats what she's called them any help would be very much helpfull thanx in advance

[ngabwI]

OK, I'm gonna need more info. You're looking for a "conversion". What, precisely, does that mean?

Do you want to change the sounds slightly so that it fits into Klingon phonology?

If that's the case, "Jade" becomes {jeD}, "Dylan" becomes {DIlan}, "Shaun" becomes {San}, and "Danny" becomes {DanIy}.

The problem with this approach is that by a bizarre coincidence, all these words (except {DanIy}) have meaning in Klingon:
{jeD} means "to be thick, viscous", {DIlan} is "We place them", and {San} is "fate, destiny".

And {DanIy} could easily mean something, if we are ever given a verb {nIy}. Should that day ever come, your nephew's "Klingon" name would mean "You {nIy} something".

Do you want to translate the original meanings of the names into Klingon? This approach really isn't what you're after, either.

Then "Jade" would probably be {naghboch} "gemstone".
"Dylan", which is "Sea" in Welsh, would be {bIQ'a'} "Ocean".
"Danny" is a pet form of "Daniel", Anglicized from the Hebrew "Daniyel" which means "God is my judge", which would be exceedingly difficult in Klingon, as we lack the word "god", and a noun "judge".
And "Shaun", which just about sounds the death knell for this approach, is Anglicized "Sean", which is a Gealic adaptation of "John", which in turn comes from "Johannes", the Latinized form of the Greek "Ioannes", itself derived from Hebrew "Yochanan", which means "God is gracious". No word meaning "to be gracious", and we run into the "god" issue again.

How, exactly, do you want to "convert" these names? Post again, and I'll happily work on it with you.

HovpoH 702259.3

[SoplaHtaHwI']

There are several ways of creating a Klingon name.

- make it up, no matter how it relates to your human name
- translate the meaning
- take a name that sounds similar to the human name
- the one I like best: take one that best describes you/the person.

ngabwI' has advised on the middle two, which indeed I think are the worst of the bunch (although I've done it with my own... thorwald -> qa'pIn -> boss/expert of/on spirit)

The problem with the last one is that it could change over time... Or one could choose to take a personality-trait and stick with it, claiming that the name was inspired by a trait that was apparent in the past.

I've seen this in that I have now also chosen a nickname that suits my human self better -> SoplaHtaHwI' -> "he who is capable to continuously eat" and as my human life progresses, I will likely invent more names/nicknames for myself...

As ngabwI' advised we would need more information on exactly what you mean by "conversion" before anything useful can be advised.

[qurgh]

posted on 6-27-2002 at 11:07

Translations

If you want translations, post them here, and I will translate them for you.

[legh vaD]

posted on 7-6-2002 at 03:34

Translation

Please translate :Matthew

[qurgh]

posted on 7-8-2002 at 01:54 AM

Matthew is a name, you can't translate a name.

Names (proper nouns) are words that are unique. In that they are the same in any language. They cannot be translated, because they are a name.

You can look up the meaning of a some names, and then translate that meaning, but your still not translating the name.

When you translate from one language to another you are not replaceing words with words from another language, you are taking the ideas behind the words and then making a new sentance which confers the same ideas.

When we use language, what we are actually doing is moving ideas and verbal descriptions of things from one person to another. When you translate from one language to another you have to describe the visual images and ideas that the orginal language words cause to form in your mind using the new language.

Does that make sense?

[Klythe]

posted on 7-8-2002 at 11:23 PM

qurgh is right.

There is no direct way to map Terran names to Klingon, the only reason you can translate names between the different Terran languages is that you can trace the effect of one culture on another. Klingons and Terrans haven't gotten along horribly well, so our cultures may have only recently begun(perhaps not even begun yet) to share and assimilate.

Personally I perfer the klingonaase concept of language. Language is a world manipulation tool. Language is what you use to process abstract ideas, without it you cannot meaningfully interact with your environment, to say nothing for the person next to you.

However, I do know one named 'Matthew' who tells me his name means 'gift of the lord'. Those words may be translated, but the meaning shifts (clearly a different lord, and almost certainly a wholely different type of lord). If you are looking for a new Klingon be advised that the connotations of this name will not be taken as favourably as they would be on the Terran Homeworld. None the less 'gift' is nob, and 'lord' translates to jaw or joH. Klingon grammar takes care of the small words by making the equivallent of a compound noun. So, the answer is the phrase 'gift of the lord' or 'lord's gift' would be joHnob or jawnob. I do not know if there is a differnce between the two forms, out of practicality alone I'd recommend the second one unless have already earned your 'Klingon tongue'. So to speak...

qurgh is a much better word warrior than I, perhaps he knows the difference between jaw and joH

[qurgh]

posted on 7-9-2002 at 12:56 AM

Hmm. "Gift of the lord".

Well, obviously in this case "lord" refers to the christian god, and not a joH or a jaw. Again, we get in the same problem. The name of the christian god is a proper noun, and cannot be translated.

When picking names, I suggest either transliterating them (Changing words to use Klingon sounds ie ma'tlhew) or just do what most people do and make up a name.

[Klythe]

originally posted on 7-9-2002 at 10:13 PM

Although I believe I have seen those terms used as part of translations for terran religious holidays, so using 'lord' in religious conotations is not unprecidented.

But I did more research, if the one named Matthew is particularly religious he could probably make it clear that he is not talking about an ordinary lord by instead use the term Qun, which means a god or supernatural entity. ('Quch qos Qun' was used for to translate a terran Holiday greeting, it means Happy's Birthday's god. It probably should be 'peQuchmeH QunqoS', or "Be happy, it is a god's birthday")

But I would pity one named Qunnob, going around claiming you are "God's gift to Klingons". You would not be able to get anything done for all the Honor Callenges you'd be facing.

[qurgh]

posted on 7-10-2002 at 12:14 PM

I've had big fights on the KLI list because of the word Qun.

Qun is a god or supernatural being.

It does not refer to the christian god. It is the "god" as used in my previous sentance.

Matthew would have to be translated ChristianQunnob, otherwise you could be refering to any of the 1000s of gods that have been created over the 1000s of year civilization has existed.

You could always use a name of of the christian god, jehovah, or yahweh, or something like that.

Being someone who has studied many religions I feel that the Klingon language is not suited for talk about religion(s). Klingons have no religion, no gods, so their language does not have words to deal with such things. Klingons can say they killed their gods:

Qunpu' DIHoH!

But they can't talk about particular gods without using proper nouns.

Ok, I have babled enough on this topic now

[qurgh]

originally posted on 7-10-2002 at 12:24 PM

Klythe 'Quch qos Qun' was used for to translate a terran Holiday greeting, it means Happy's Birthday's god. It probably should be 'peQuchmeH QunqoS', or "Be happy, it is a god's birthday")

The phrase *Quch qos Qun* would mean *Birthday's god is happy* not "Happy's Birthdays' god". Quch is a verb meaning to be happy, and can't be used as a possessive noun.

As for 'peQuchmeH QunqoS', now thats a wierd sentance. You would have to use something else besides pe- since pe- means "you" do something, and what your trying to say is 'godbirthday causes you to be happy' (How can a god be born?). You need to use Du-. Also, as a little note, you can't just stuff two nouns together to make a compound noun. Only Okrand can do that.

In the past Klingons has used QISmaS for christmas, since christmas is a proper noun.
If you want to say some kind of salutation on christmas I would suggest:
Quchjaj QISmaSlIj - May your christmas be happy
QISmaS Quch Daghajjaj - May you have a happy christmas

[Klythe]

originally posted on 7-11-2002 at 03:20 PM

hmm... Perhaps I should have make it two sentances. I was kinda preferential to being more direct, , instructing that you should be merry rather than merely wishing it, the way a terran would...

I begin to learn from you, language warrior.

legh vaD, did you get what you wanted?

[qurgh]

originally posted on 7-11-2002 at 05:53 PM

Klythe hmm... Perhaps I should have make it two sentances. I was kinda preferential to being more direct, , instructing that you should be merry rather than merely wishing it, the way a terran would...

You can do it that way. You'd end up with something like

QISmaS Quch yIghaj! - Have a happy christmas!!

Then you have an imperative sentance (an order). Which would be much more Klingon, as you pointed out.

[qoSagh]

In the above listed thread there was a request to translate the name Matthew. As other posted in that thread there are two ways to do this. First is to sound out the name and spell it in tlhIngan Hol, this would at least produce a word that a Klingon would pronounce somewhat close to Matthew, however since the word would be unknown to most Klingons it would have to be explained as a proper name.

The second way was to find the meaning of Matthew (Gift of the Lord) and translate that. This is where I have a problem with where the thread went. The tlhIngan words for Lord are more in the context of a title, like Lord Mayor or Lord High Admiral, used by tlhInganmey not by god(s). The word for God is a catchall for god, supernatural being. Which leads me to think of it as more of a title than a name. This is exactly in keeping with many human concepts of god, where "god" is the title of a being not the name.

I am surprised at the posters who immediately jumped up about saying that Matthew could not be translated because the god in question was the Christian god. This is only half true. The name Matthew predates Christianity as a religion, so therefore it is not a reference to the Christian god as opposed to any other god that one might worship. The name being a hebrew name, is a reference to the Hebrew God, which of course is the same as the Christian God, but the first person to name a child Matthew would not have been able to foresee this reference.

That being said, the phrase gift of the Lord, is easily understandible even if you do not know the lord/god in question. The concept is the same, no matter who is giving the gift to whom. If you told someone you just received a gift from your uncle, would they have to know your uncle to understand the concept of you getting that gift? Not at all.

So a generic word for god like Qun, is actually quite a good translation for the concept of god. If you want to translate the propper names jehovah, or yahweh you run into the same original quandry of either sounding them out or translating meanings. Since such a name would mean God, then the generic word Qun in once again an acceptible translation.

I personally would go for sounding out the propper name, only because the generic would be easily confused with the title of one or more local gods, which would hamper conversation.


[Edit -- Merged post with intended thread.]

[wingcommanderkram]

Hail Warriors,

     While scrolling through yahoo's member directory, I discovered a member who mentions that she chose her name very carefully and after much research, and spelled it 'qivas'.  Now, while I am only a novice right now, I do have the original 'raised bird of prey' copy of the Klingon Dictionary as well as the 'Star Trek 6' update, and Klingon for the Galactica Traveler, and the closest I can come to any for a compound or single word would be 'knee'.

     I am also well versed enough to know that it should be propperly written as 'qIvaS' or 'QIvaS'.

     This has sparked a rather potent query in me, so any and all help would be appreciated.

                                                              Survive and Succeed,
                                                              Kram, Son of yu'll
                                                              (a.K.a. Mark in Maryland)

[qoSagh]

Not knowing the yahoo member in question or thier reference sources, I can only offer a guess that tlhIngan Hol was not the source of the name. There are other Klingon languages, and there are many sources for Klingon names and many methods of choosing names from those sources. The only one who could answer such a question about qivas would be qivas.

[Abbot Nej vIt]

Agreed,

And it Should likely be taken into account as well, that (As we have discussed here before), Mr. Okrand has established that there are Variant Dialects within the Empire and that the Common Lexicon is often reflective of who is in Power at a Given Time... so although your Closest Definition may be "Knee" in another Dialect perhaps QIvaS is Clipped Klingon for "The Leg Weapon Which is Used to Make Contact with an Opponants Groin in Combat"... Ouch!!!...<Shudder>...

[wyrdR]

I know of the exploits (and sometimes follies) of the one called Worf (wo'rIv mogh tuq).  He has, perhaps, proved himself more than is required.

But what does it mean, 'Worf' ?  Does it have a meaning in an older tongue?

Is it a worthy name to give my own son?

~ wyrdR

[Abbot Nej vIt]

Greetings wyrdR,

Any "Herbert-ism" in that Name? ...<Grin>...

As Far as I Know Worf is Just Worf, Yet another in a Long Line of Quasi-gutteral Klingon Names...

If One wished to "Read Into" the Name, Perhaps one Could Stretch the Following Idea a Little...

wo'rIv = wo' (Empire) + rIvSo (Embassey) Shortened for The Familiarization of a Name by Dropping the last Portion of the Word = wo' + rIv (-So) = Imperial Emmissary? Though this would be a HUGE Stretch since oS' Already Means Represent, and oS'wI Means Emmissary... Though it Could Still be Something of a Play on Words, We Have seen a little of that before...

Anyone Else have anything?

[wyrdR]

Greetings wyrdR,

Any "Herbert-ism" in that Name? ...<Grin>...

As Far as I Know Worf is Just Worf, Yet another in a Long Line of Quasi-gutteral Klingon Names...

I bare my teeth in a non-aggressive manner 

"Herbert-ism" in my name?  None that I'm conscious of.  It is based on the word 'weird' and from the root of that word, from Norse mythology, Urðr, one of the three Norns (fates).  I don't know, but don't the old Norse myths and culture remind you of Klingons?  I certainly reckon the Klingons have the same dislike of a 'straw death'.   

Yeah, I figured that there may be no immediate translation to the name, but thought that perhaps at some stage, in some obtuse Star Trek literature, someone may have proposed its meaning.

I'll tell you why I want to know:

I have three sons, from youngest to oldest- firstname middlename:

Luis Bowman
Sheridan Mitchell
Jacob Worf

All of them have a warrior/leader's name, and each of them have a sci-fi inspired name.  I try not to repeat the source of origin for any of the names.  Each have a name from a different language/culture, and each is named after a character in a different sci-fi. [ It may be mildly entertaining to have a guess at the source of each name, so I won't say which. ]

In any case, I realised that I know the meanings of every name I've given them, except for 'Worf':

Warrior-Prince Archer
Wild-Man Like-the-Lord
Supplanter *Worf*

So, if anyone can come up with a reasonably authentic meaning to 'Worf', I'd be in their debt. 

Hmmm... maybe my next son can be called 'Muad'Dib.'