Dog Training Commands in Klingon

[johnwade]

Hi,

I train dogs for a living and just started a new dog for my own use. He will be trained primarily in scent work but will be learning advanced obedience, some bite work, tracking etc. I would like to explore the possibility of using the Klingon language equivalent to traditional commands. Is the correct place to ask for assistance for this sort of thing?

john

[tesseraktik]

When addressing pets, Klingons use what's called "Clipped Klingon", an abbreviated form of the language.  For instance, "Sit!" becomes simply ba'!, rather than yIba'!.

From "Power Klingon":

SuH. - Ready. (This signifies that the master is about to issue a command)
ba'! - Sit! (normally, yIba'!)
Qam! - Stand! (normally, yIQam!)
naDev ghoS! - Come here! (normally, naDev yIghoS!)
Sop! - Eat! (normally, yISop!)
Sop 'e' mev! - Stop eating! (normally, bISop 'e' yImev!)
HIv! - Attack! (normally, yIHIv!)
'uSDaj chop chev! - Bite his/her/its leg off! (normally, 'uSDaj yIchop yIchev!
DeSvetlh yIv! - Chew that arm! (normally, DeSvetlh yIyIv!)
mev! - Do not do that! (normally, yImev!)
jol SeHlaw lIghHa'! - Get off the transport control panel! (normally, jol SeHlaw yIlIghHa'! (interestingly, lIgh really means "to ride"; uncertain what this implies))
naDev Dochvetlh qem! - Bring that here! (normally, naDev Dochvetlh yIqem!)
naDev Dochvetlh qemqu'! - I really mean it, this time; BRING THAT HERE! (normally, naDev Dochvetlh yIqemqu'!)
qab, Ha'DIbaH qab. - Bad!  Bad animal! (to be perfectly proper, I suppose Ha'DIbaH qab SoH. ("You are a bad animal.") would be used)


Some of my own suggestions:
largh! - Smell it! (normally, yIlargh!)
ghoch! - Track it! (normally, yIghoch!)
maj. - Good.  Well done.
majQa'! - Very good!  Good animal!

[johnwade]

Thanks so much. Is there anywhere that can help me learn the pronunciation? (Also as an aside, where do I add a signature and picture? My profile doesn't seem to allow editing in those areas)

John

[tesseraktik]

Thanks so much. Is there anywhere that can help me learn the pronunciation?

The sounds of Klingon is a good place to start.
I also recommend getting the tape "Conversational Klingon", available on iTunes.  I don't think "Power Klingon" is available yet, however.

You can also check out DaHjaj Hol, a podcast by Lawrence M. Schoen (founder of the Klingon Language Institute).
I recommend subscribing to this podcast on iTunes (by adding http://www.lawrencemschoen.com/category/podcasts/feed/ to your podcast subscriptions) or some RSS reader in order to keep track of which ones you've already listened to.

(Also as an aside, where do I add a signature and picture? My profile doesn't seem to allow editing in those areas)

You need to attain a certain rank (dictated by post count) to gain those permissions.  I believe it's 15 posts for a signature and 100 for an avatar.

[johnwade]

How about - Empty Your Bowels - or something similar.

[qurgh_]

You can hear many of the Pet Commands from Power Klingon listed by tesseraktik here: http://hol.kag.org/media/audio/MO%20-%20Power%20Klingon/20%20Pet%20commands.mp3

[johnwade]

That was very interesting. There is no way however that basics commands on any planet would be as syllabic as many of those mentioned. While I loved the idea of Klingon commands for pet training the practical application isn't there. Someone should take another shot at Klingon pet training commands but work with a professional trainer, particularly someone with an interest in protection sports. The traditional Germanic is guttural and commands are very short - single words, with very few syllables usually.

[QoghtlhIH'u']

That was very interesting. There is no way however that basics commands on any planet would be as syllabic as many of those mentioned.

Many pet/commands in Power Klingon are actually monosyllabic:
ready, sit, stand, eat, attack,
so there should be no problem.

Instead of "Bite his/her/its leg off! " it would be sufficient to yell chop, bite!

Ofcourse  "Get off the transport control panel!"  is an added extra joke by the makers of Power Klingon. When I listened to Power Klingon with headphones on I started laughing out loud at this part, so my wife asked me what the joke was. I could not explain it to her.
qem! would be good enough to make your dog fetch something, instead of naDev Dochvetlh qem! Bring that here!

And the other monosyllabic suggestions by tessaraktik give you a monosyllabic dog training vocabulary of 9 or 10 commands already.
My guess is that in any Terran language you would have to use longer words if the commands themselves get more complicated, unless you invent a special ´dog commands monosyllabic language´.

[QoghtlhIH'u']

More possible monosyllabic dog commands in Klingon:

'el - enter, go in
chon hunt
lob obey
mej leave, depart
nej look for, seek, search for
puy wreck
QaQ be good
Qong - sleep
qet run
Suq get
tIv enjoy (dog cookies or a bone)
tlhutlh   drink
tu' find
tugh - hurry up

I would like to see a list of basic dog commands either in German or English in order to draw up the Klingon equivalent list.