tlhIngan Hol Dajatlh'a'?

[khaosworks]

Yes, they were speaking Klingon — "real" Klingon — in the latest episode of Chuck. Well, mostly, anyway.

The two bits were when Bryce asks Chuck to prove he is Chuck and asks him, "tlhIngan Hol Dajatlh'a'?", literally "You speak Klingon language?" I have no idea what Chuck replied though... either my Klingon is just as rusty or that was gibberish.

Also, at the climactic scene, as far as I can tell there doesn't seem to be a Klingon word for "bulletproof vest" created yet, so whatever Bryce was mumbling before he asked Chuck, "HIja'? ghobe'?" (Yes? No?) was also gibberish. Chuck, this time, clearly replies, "HIja'," so Bryce knows it's safe to shoot him.

If someone can actually tell me if Chuck in the first scene was actually speaking something comprehensible, let me know. The accents weren't as bad as I was expecting... and hell, better than mine, so someone did get them a coach who knew how to pronounce Klingon properly.

Comments

chovnatlh Dangu'chugh qaboQqang

[sydneygb.livejournal.com]

Be glad to take a peek if you can tell me what episode it was. I barely watch live tv these days, but nbc.com has some eps online to watch.

Re: chovnatlh Dangu'chugh qaboQqang

[khaosworks.livejournal.com]

It's the current one - Episode 11. "Chuck vs. the Nemesis".

[faxpaladin.livejournal.com]

As someone who speaks almost no Klingon whatsoever -- surely there would be a word for "armor"?

[khaosworks.livejournal.com]

There's no word for "armor" in the Klingon Dictionary, either. The closest I can get to it is to construct a compound noun from two other known nouns: "porghyoD", from "porgh" — "body" — and "yoD" — "shield". And that's not what Bryce said.

[figmo.livejournal.com]

I've started speaking Klingon in my comedy act. My vocabulary is rather limited, though.

[sydneygb.livejournal.com]

Bryce's line in the first scene was a bit mangled, but it does sound like it could be <tlhIngan Hol DajatlhlaH'a'> like you said. Chuck's response sounds like <(HI)ja', bIpIv qalo'>, which would mean, "Yes, you're healthy - I use you" which makes no sense. Of course, Bryce does tell him he's rusty. :) I would expect something like <HIja', tlhIngan Hol vIlo'> or <Holvetlh vIlo'>. *shrug*

In the other scene, Bryce clearly says <ghaj'a' wep?>, though his /gh/ is more of a /g/ and his /p/ is kinda like /b/. /wep/ means 'jacket'.

Not bad for mere tera'nganpu'! :D

[khaosworks.livejournal.com]

Thanks! Yes, the research was well done — of course, having one of your directors/producers be Robert Duncan McNeill might have something to do with the ability to get good consults on Klingonese...