Train service dog in Klingon

[gunnerjones]

I ‘m investigating the possibility of training a service dog in Klingon; this is not  a gag or a hoot. I tried using some online translators but some words were not translatable, i.e. “sit”.  I’m looking for translations and wav’s for proper pronunciation .  any help would be most appreciated.  Email  maxgunnar@msn.com

[ngabwI]

Morning, and welcome to the forums!

Post the list of commands you need in Klingon, and I'll go about translating (most of them are going to be root forms of verbs, so it shouldn't be a problem.)

HovpoH 702571.6

[tmk1000]

On Power Klingon
There are some base klingon commands.
Sit
Stand
Bite his arm off.ect

[gunnerjones]

Thanks NgabwI, here is a list of basic obedience commands:
1. sit
2. down ,  as in the down position ,  or prone
3. stay
4. off,     for off the couch, bed etc
5. heal,   that’s where the dog walks on the left of the handler w/o pulling the lead
6. come,  the recall command, usually playful
7. here,   more assertive
8. go around,     dog walks around the handler and goes to the heal and sits.
9. Up,   as in jump up on the table, platform etc
10. Yes,  as in yes, good boy!
11. No.  mild  as that’s not quite what I wanted you to do
12. No.  harsh,  stop immediately what you are doing now
13. OK. The release, go and lick what ever, we are done for the moment
Dogs respond best to commands that are one or two syllables. ie
"Geblout!"   German,   for Get Loud,   Speak!  
Dogs actually read body language much better than verbal but we use vocal commands to prevent confusion.
It would be great if you could give me the pronunciations  and wonderful if you had a wav file.  I’m sure
In Klingon culture I'm they have wonderful names for their pets.  For dogs usually a one or two syllable name is
Best ie Max, Nitro, Peaches etc.   thanks again
 

[gunnerjones]

Forgot the command  "stand"

I mangled my last sentence,  I'm requesting Klingon pet Names,

[Klythe]

I'm not sure if we have any canonical Klingon names for their pets.   But I know of two official pet names.   Worf appearently had a targh named lengwI' which translates to a grammatical term for a type of suffix that can appear in a variety of positions(most suffixes have a fixed position relative to the other suffixes),  these words are often called 'rovers' by English speaking linguists, which I'm sure is why it was chosen for the name of Worf's childhood pet.   Kruge's pet from ST3 appears to have been named 'Warrigul'.

   If I were to generate a list of names for klingon pets, I would start with a bunch of 'do-er' words, such as Retriever, Chaser, Leaper, Hunter, Annoyer, etc, and add another word like an adjective or an object to some of them that sound too generic.   Also colors and bodyparts...

[gunnerjones]

I could always use, Targh, Kruge, or Worf as names

[ngabwI]

Ok, this is my attempt.

"Sit!" {ba'!} "Sit"
"Down" {yav} "Ground". The verb {Qot} "to lie down, recline" is too close to {Qo'!} "No, don't, stop!", which I intend to use elsewhere.
"Stay!" {ratlh!} "Remain!"
"Off" {vIH} "Move!" Not nuts about this one, but needed something sufficiently different from the rest.
"Heel!" {poSwIj} "my left side"
"Come" {ghoS} "To approach"
"Here!" {DaH!} "Now!"
"Go Around" {Dop Hop} "Far side" Again, not crazy about it, but it'll have to do.
"Up!" {lIt} "Climb up (on sth)!"
"Yes!" {maj} "Good job! Well done!"
"No" (mild) {mev} "Stop"
"No!" (harsher) {Qo'!} "No, don't, stop!" This has a very harsh sound, with a very loud onset. This is likely to get the dog's attention, which is the purpose of this command, I gather.
"OK" {pItlh} "All done!"
"Stand!" {Qam} "Stand"

As for the wav's, I've recorded them all, and the total comes to 10.8 MB. I would be happy to arrange for an online meeting time so we can transfer them via an IM util that supports file transfer.

Email me privately to set up a time.

As for the name, I've always like B'Ellana. (Not a pet, I know, but it has sufficiently Western sounds that it sounds like a "real" name.) If the dog's male, ignore the suggestion. }}: )

HovpoH 702588.3

[Qunchuy]

I won't comment on the vocabulary except to say that most of the suggestions seem fine. But I want to point out what Power Klingon has to say about pet commands:

Always use "clipped" Klingon when speaking to a pet or other animal. Do not use verb prefixes; the verbs will always be commands. Precede each command with the interjection SuH or Su' attention. If you address the pet by name, use the name first, followed by the attention word and then the command word.

For example:
DomHom Su' quS lItHa'
Radanette, hey! Get off the chair.
Su' 'av
Hey! Guard.

[ngabwI]

I won't comment on the vocabulary except to say that most of the suggestions seem fine.

Any suggestions are welcome, esp. any that would rid this of the noun-based commands (while still sounding different from the rest), and giving a better "feel" to the overall list.

--ngabs
HovpoH 702616.9

[qoSagh]

Interesting that this topic has come up. I'm not sure what got me thinking of the idea, but I was thinikng about training a guard dog or police K9 in tlhIngan Hol. Usually they are trained in languages other than english or with words that are different from thier actual meanings as a security measure. I think Hol fits the bill there. I suspect that at least some of the basic comands would be the same for any type of working dog.

Now that does of course bring up a philosophical debate, if the dog learns basic commands in tlhIngan Hol that it uses for work, is it then a being capable of using language? The dictionary never said to what degree language must be used. hmmmmmmmm

[Klythe]

Yes, but this is not the thread for such a philosophical debate.   It should either form a new thread, or I'll use it as an excuse to re-raise the -pu' vs. -mey thread.  Just because I like it.