Klingon

[pne]

When I went to Kiel over the weekend, I took along my copy of The Klingon Dictionary, to read over the grammar again. I've been interested in the language again recently.

I've been reading up on the Internet and trying to catch up a little on my six-month backlog of mailing list digests. I'm a bit envious of those people who've been involved with the language for over ten years, speak it fluently by now, and talk about what they did at qep'a' wejDIch, which must have been in 1996.

On the other hand, I suppose I have a bit of an advantage over them in that I have more materials available than they did; for example, the addendum to TKD or Klingon for the Galactic Traveller, which introduces more vocabulary.

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Yesterday, I found out that there will be a qepHom in Germany this year (qepHom is a "minor meeting"—as opposed to the yearly qep'a' "major meeting" for all Klingonists, usually in the States) and was considering attending. Since it's unlikely that Stella will pay for this harebrained idea, I had a look at what it would cost me.

Apparently, the train ticket would cost at least €80 (unless I'm interested in travelling for twelve hours instead of about eight), and that's the discounted price, which means I have to take a certain train. (If I had a BahnCard 25, I'd be able to save 25% on that price and get the ticket for about €60… but I might get a BahnCard 50 from work soon, which doesn't allow me to save on discounted prices but does allow me to buy a normal, fully flexible, ticket for half the price, or about €80.) The stay in the youth hostel costs another €62 or €52, depending on whether I'd settle for a four-bed or a two-bed room, so I'm probably looking at something like €130. Hm.

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I'm also considering picking a name for myself, but I'm not sure yet what. I'm not particularly keen on translating either of my given names; while I'm fine with the names as names, I don't particularly want to make the meaning transparent by translating them. Another common theme is names based on occupations, but there's already a ghunchu'wI' "perfect programmer", so something based on programming would clash with that, in my opinion. Maybe a name based on other nicknames or aliasses I have?

For example, pne could yield something like pIne'. Or perhaps something like pIneH "we want you" or pIn'a' "master" :)

I imagine that whatever I come up with at the end will not have a meaning, though, and simply be "a name". I have a feeling I should put some thought into it, since as the FAQ says, "You should probably spend a little time thinking about it until you find the sound that you will be satisfied to be called by for a long time. That is, after all, the most important part of the decision." (emphasis mine)

Comments

[elgrande.livejournal.com]

Cool, do you think you speak Klingon well enough to attend that meeting? Are you just interested in Klingon because it's a conlang or are you a trekkie? BTW, although you seem to be interested in conlangs, I can't remember you ever writing anything about Esperanto. How come?

qepHom / Esperanto

[pne.livejournal.com]

Cool, do you think you speak Klingon well enough to attend that meeting?

No :) I only started learning recently. But the web site (http://www.khemorex-klinzhai.de/levinius/qephom/deutsch.html) assures me:

WER?
alle die Klingonisch lernen wollen

Seid Ihr ein erfahrener Student der Sprache, ein Anfänger, oder einfach neugierig, so laden wir Euch ein, teilzunehmen. Dies ist nicht ein Treffen für Klingonischexperten, sondern ein Kurs für diejenigen, die es werden wollen. Zur Teilnahme braucht man weder Kenntnisse der Sprache, noch unmengen an Büchern. Klingonisch ist einfach! Wer's nicht glaubt, soll herkommen!

Are you just interested in Klingon because it's a conlang or are you a trekkie?

Purely from the conlang point of view. I don't think you'd see me dress up as a Klingon, for example.

I watched Star Trek (TOS and some TNG) when I was younger and enjoyed it, but I wouldn't consider myself a fan; at least, not by the standards of activity/interest/fascination others hold for Trekism.

BTW, although you seem to be interested in conlangs, I can't remember you ever writing anything about Esperanto. How come?

Um, don't know? Maybe because I went through "my Esperanto phase" already.

I got involved with Esperanto while I was still going to school and learned a little bit about it (I remember in particular a textbook called Tesi la testudo "Tesi the tortoise"). I suppose my enthusiasm for that language has mostly passed.

I have nothing against it (and consider it more useful in "the real world" than, say, Klingon, Lojban, or Verdurian); it simply does not have my current excitement or attention. Nevertheless, there's an Esperanto dictionary on my wishlist (http://wunschzetel.de/philip), so I've not totally lost interest in it.

Re: qepHom

[pne.livejournal.com]

I think elgrande speaks German, so I quoted the German version of the web page (which is also, I believe, the original).

For the benefits of other readers, there's also an English version (http://www.khemorex-klinzhai.de/levinius/qephom/english.html) available which says:

WHO?
anyone interested in learning Klingon

If you are an experienced student, a beginner, or just curious, we invite you to participate. This is not a meeting for Klingon experts, but classes for those who want to become one. You need nothing to participate, no knowledge of klingon, and no books. Klingon is easy! If you don't believe it, then pass by and we'll show you!

[nik-w.livejournal.com]

Think like a student: an extra 4 hours travelling is a small trade-off for cheaper fares! Beds? Who needs beds? Take a blanket and a pillow and lie on the floor!:p You could do the lot for £50!:p

The student way

[pne.livejournal.com]

Heh :) I think I'm getting too old for that; I don't know whether I fancy spending three hours in some random railway station in the middle of the night.

I had another look, and I don't even save that much; a ticket that includes high-speed trains costs €79.40 and it takes me about eight hours; local trains only cost €71.20 and take about ten and a half.

So I save €8.20 and would have to leave early on Sunday in order to get home the same day (otherwise I inevitably have a break of at least two hours from around 1 a.m. to 3 a.m.) or else spend another night there (yet more costs).

I also don't know whether the youth hostel would take kindly to someone sleeping on the floor, and I don't have a tent nor do I know anyone nearby with whom I can stay.

So I'm afraid I'll probably have to do it the boring (and expensive) adult way.

Still, since it's in a youth hostel, it's a great deal cheaper than if I had to organise a hotel.

Re: The student way

[nik-w.livejournal.com]

And here I was thinking you were younger than me for some reason. Not that much older, mind!:) Take a good book or two is my recommendation!