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A Klingon Christmas Carol
Have you always wished that Christmas classics were written in Klingon? If so, then a theater in Chicago has just the thing for you, "A Christmas Carol" in thIngan Hol, the language of the Klingon race. Written by Christopher O. Kidder and Sasha Walloch, the play features English Supertitles, and narrative analysis from The Vulcan Institute of Cultural Anthropology. "The story of Ebeneezer Scrooge is eternal and universal. But that alone isn't what does it. Also, Star Trek has worked its way into the fabric of American pop culture so much, that even those people who aren't Trekkies (or, Trekkers) understand what's going on," Kidder says.
You lost me at "in Klingon". Lame.
taH pagh taHbe'. DaH mu'tlheghvam vIqelnIS. quv'a', yabDaq San vaQ cha, pu' je SIQDI'? pagh, Seng bIQ'a'Hey SuvmeH nuHmey SuqDI', 'ej, Suvmo', rInmoHDI'? Hegh. Qong --- Qong neH --- 'ej QongDI', tIq 'oy', wa'SanID Daw''e' je cho'nISbogh porghDaj rInmoHlaH net Har.
Because Dickens' A Christmas Carol is the universal aspect.
The Daddy casts sleep on the Baby. The Baby resists!
I'm jealous that my physics professor went to see this.
It is no coincidence that in no known language does the phrase 'As pretty as an Airport' appear.
jIH ta'laHbe' Har chaH tuH vaj Sum dressing chaH Dung rur !
Seven Days with Ubuntu Unity
It claims that a human female was somehow involved in this.
After it closed: http://www.cbtheatre.org/Klingon-Xmas-Carol.html
A warrior does not celebrate Christmas!
How do they explain Tim's (presumably) Klingon parents not shooting his lame, shorty, sickly butt out the nearest air lock as soon as his illness manifested itself?
And for that matter, why doesn't Klingon Bob or Ebenezer's nephew simply challenge Ebenezer to bat'leth deul, cut his head off, and take over the company? Just sayin'....
.
Prisencolinensinainciusol. Ol Rait!
The whole Christmas Carol story is about the spiritual redemption of a man who spent his entire life in pursuit of wealth sacrificing his "soul" in the process and not helping his fellow man.
A Klingon would consider the sickly, weak and poor to be not worthy and therefore should be killed. A Klingon would have killed Tiny Tim or Tiny Tim would have died a honorable death in battle - maybe as a suicide pilot or something.
If anything, a Klingon Christmas Carol would have Bob Cratchit haunted and the ghosts would have convinced him to kill Tiny Tim and take over Scrooge's operation by kicking his ass.
I saw this last week... In Saint Paul, MN. Where it started running 5 years ago. (Chicago is a recent expansion.)
Good show. I suggest going to see it next year.
--
"I have also mastered pomposity, even if I do say so myself." -Kryten
You haven't heard Dickens until you've heard it in the original tlhlngan Hol!
fighting and mating rituals.
I so need to update my holiday traditions. Even the Airing of Grievances doesn't hold a candle to that.
(Stolen from here.
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Perhaps off topic, but.....
All technical discussions in companies should be done in Klingon. Having worked in the field for over a quarter of a century, I have come to the conclusion that marketing, sales, and management should NEVER know what goes on in engineering. Everyone will be happier. Lets face it, non-technical people barely understand as it is, and when they do get the jist of an idea, they so badly misunderstand it, it becomes a marketing phase/buzzword that everyone else will eventually either have to support or explain to the lowest common denominator why its a bad idea.
Lets just speak Klingon and kill the engineers that dishonour themselves and go into management to prevent translation. The economy will be better because we'll be able to make stuff again.
Sort of obligatory. LOL, but I must say I would never have expected something like this in Chicago. While Star Trek is certainly better known by the mainstream these days, let's not get too crazy. Being a Star Trek fan still marks you as king of nerds! Not that there's anything wrong with that, but I may be biased.
To the making of books there is no end, so let's get started
Yeah and the article does not even give details on where it had been at. It would have been nice to have a link like this http://www.cbtheatre.org/CHI-works/KCC2010-CHI/KCC-CHI-2010.htm in the summary.
... then it might be really interesting. Just like the Blackadder's retelling of the classic absolutely stood it on it's head. If it is just Dicken's tale spoken in Klingon, forget about it.
When are we going to see Bohemian Rhapsody done in the original Klingon?
Translated to English: "Mama, I killed a hyoo man, put a batleth in his head, gave a twist and now he's dead. Mama, now my life's begun! More honor to our house has no one done!"
I've always wondered what the point in learning Klingon is. I mean, for that effort you can learn a real world language.
A Vulcan remake of "Behind the Green Door"
Python: 'And then suddenly you have a language which says "we're all stuck with whatever the whiniest coder wants".'
I don't like star trek, i haven't seen most of hte movies, and even i kow that the proper way to have started that summary should have been:
"Have you always wished that you could hear your favorite Christmas classics in the original Klingon?"
-- The Hoss Man
in thIngan Hol, the language of the Klingon race
Wait, does this mean that every time says "only complete nerds speak the klingon language.'", I can correct them by saying "actually, it's 'thlngan Hol'"? Fantastic!
The English word fart is one of the oldest words in the English vocabulary.
I was at the Greenlight theater last Saturday (2200 N. Block of Lincoln) to see their Frosty kids show with my kids. Last Saturday was the final performance of Klingon Christmas Carol. Greenlight gives kids of elementary age a chance to learn theater and participate. Anyone who calls the show lame and nerdy is a fucktard and probably insults it from their World of Warcraft system. It's great, and few theaters have the money and ability to do something so funny and experimental.
According to online klingon translator at
https://sites.google.com/a/klingonword.org/klv/klingon-translator-and-dictionary
you wrote --
" be none [taHbe'] now [mu'tlheghvam] [vIqelnIS] [quv'a'] [yabDaq] [San] [vaQ] [cha] [pu'] also [SIQDI'] none trouble [bIQ'a'Hey] [SuvmeH] [nuHmey] [SuqDI'] and [Suvmo'] [rInmoHDI'] death sleep [---] sleep desire [---] and [QongDI'] heart sore [wa'SanID] [Daw''e'] also [cho'nISbogh] [porghDaj] [rInmoHlaH] [net] believe"
Assuming the translator is to be trusted, first line should've been -
"Daq taH joq ghobe' Daq taH"
ELOI, ELOI, LAMA SABACHTHANI!?
"Trans details don't match submission in MFAS for merchant"
I'm not a 'Trekkie', but I'm a fan of the genre.
Define 'understand'.
deleting the extra space after periods so i can stay relevant, yeah.
I'm just a Klingon from a dishonored family.
He's just a Klingon from a dishonored family. Just stab him in the heart, so he can reach Stovokor.
Sorrry, couldn't resist, you inspired me.
-- A computer without COBOL and Fortran is like a piece of chocolate cake without ketchup and mustard
Your link indicates that this is an annual production and not something new like the summary would want you to believe.
If I used a sig over again, would anyone notice?
Already done. Threw together an initial translation in 2001, concentrating on translation and syllable matching but not rhyming anything.
...
...
...
Reckoned if any language had a translation for "Mama, I killed a man, Put a gun against his head, pulled my trigger. Now he's dead." Klingon would.
It's published on the net, but I reckon it's rather rough. I may consider returning to it and cleaning it up.
As slashdotting my own site ain't too brilliant an idea I'll not provide a direct link, but include some of it below.
Ahem:
teH'a' yInvam pagh
tojbogh pa'Daq jIHtaH'a'
mujon pumbogh puH
ghu'vam vItvo' vIHaw'laHbe'
mInDu'lIj poSmoH
chalDaq yInuD 'ej yIlegh
loDHom mIpHa' jIH, chovup vIneHbe'mo'
jIpo' 'ej nom jIvIHlaH
HoSchugh SuS pagh pujchugh SuS
chay' HoS SuS? vISaHbe'! jIHvaD SuS HoS vISaHbe'law'
-jIHvaD
SoSoy. qen loD vIchotpu'
nachDajDaq HIch (vI)vIHmoHpu'
chu'wI' chu'chu'pu', DaH Heghpu'.
SoSoy. qen taghpu' yInwIj
'ach DaH yInwIj naQ vIpolHa'chu'pu'
tlhoy paS, pawlI' HeghwIj
jIHeghvIpmo', bIr pIpwIj
DaHjaj 'oy'law'taH porghwIj
jIHvaD veqlarghHom poltaH veqlargh 'e' vISov
jIHaw'nIS neH - naDevvo' jIHaw'nISchu' neH
pagh vISaH 'e' vItu'
'e' leghlaH vay'
pagh vISaH 'e' vItu'. jIHvaD, pagh vISaH 'e' vItu'
This is true. The Chicago production has managed to garner a lot of press and that's awesome but, as is often the case, people just don't do their homework before they go post crazy. This show would not exist without those who came before us (and still journey with us) in Minnesota. This is the 4th year up in the Twin Cities and the first year in Chicago. The Chicago production was entirely new and cast with Chicago actors. We performed simultaneously with the Twin Cities production for three weeks and then they closed but we performed one more additional week in Chicago. It was that final weekend when Mark Okrand came to see the show and the Wall Street Journal showed up that things blew up on the press front... sadly, it was 4 weeks too late for this year's show but helps ensure next year's show happens! :) ~Jen~
By going out to Andorian restaurants and then spending the rest of the day plotzing in Holodecks?
Have you always wished that Christmas classics were written in Klingon?
No.
An enraged and effeminate C-3PO: "This unacceptably overshadows Life Day. Won't someone think of the Wookies?"
So on this issue of translating "A Christmas Carol" to a fictional language, I would think that Tolkien's Elvish might be a much more natural choice.
File under 'M' for 'Manic ranting'
I would certainly have thought that it should be a Fergni tragedy, showing how showing compassion and mercy loses you profit. Bah Humbug.
Just make sure the first presentation in 2012 will be close enough to the end of the world science fiction convention to allow people to add a day or two to their travel plans and go see it. Maybe 2012 should have a Shakespeare one to end just before worldcon. My vote, MacBeth. I would try out if I spoke Klingonese.
Star Trek has worked its way into the fabric of American pop culture so much, that even those people who aren't Trekkies (or, Trekkers) understand what's going on," Kidder says.
Well, no. People who aren't Klingon 'speaking' Trek fans (a small subset of all Trek fans) can understand what's going on because you've provided English subtitles and based your play on a story extremely well known and woven much deeper into American culture than Star Trek. Given the preconditions (subtitles, extremely well knows story), pretty much anyone could follow along and understand what's going on almost regardless of language, staging, etc... etc...
What's Klingon for 'get a life?'
tlhap yIn!
Ubi solitudinem faciunt, pacem appellant.
Lets have less sleigh bells and more Slayer in the shopping malls.
Have gnu, will travel.
Why does geek "culture" insist on embracing these escapist, fictitious products of commercialism when there are true examples of warrior culture? Why not learn Maori, Kiowa, or Assata Shakur? Embrace reality, you lazy pathetic couch-potatoes! Television is the last refuge of the unimaginative.
Sorry.
To have a right to do a thing is not at all the same as to be right in doing it
I'd prefer Elvish as my made-up-and-utterly-useless-in-the-real-world-type-language for this show.
They should have made Scrooge a Ferengi - and instead the three Klingon ghosts beat the crap out of him. Would be much more realistic.
I think a Ferengi Scrooge would be a lot of fun... I mean, all the things Scrooge would normally do would be considered good things... And then Jacob Marley and the other three ghosts would show up to encourage him to do it better...
Marley would show up and warn Scrooge that with his misdeeds he's forging a chain to burden him in the afterlife - and that it's important to accumulate enough wealth and manage it properly to be able to pay for the disposal of that chain after death. ("A man is only worth the sum of his possessions.") The two haggle over details of their partnership ("A contract is a contract is a contract - but only between Ferengi." "A Ferengi without profit is no Ferengi at all.") as Marley attempts to extract funds from Scrooge in exchange for a visit from the Ghosts of Business Consultation. ("Free Advice is Seldom Cheap" "Knowledge is Profit" "Never place friendship above profit.") Scrooge initially refuses to accept the reality of Marley's appearance, attributing it to hunger, and refuses to negotiate ("Never begin a negotiation on an empty stomach." "You can't make a deal if you're dead.") but Marley convinces him otherwise ("Greed is Eternal") and the two strike up a bargain wherein the Three Ghost Consultants will pay him a visit, and Marley will receive a percentage of the fee as well as a token payment in recognition of their old business partnership.
The Ghost of Performance Review would show Scrooge his early years, in which he developed his obsession with profit, his enterprising spirit of fiscal conquest and how he came to neglect his fiance Belle. Scrooge pines over his lost love for a moment ("Money is money, but females are better.") but the ghost praises his decision ("Females and finances don't mix.") The ghost would contrast Scrooge's youthful vigor for business with his present state, a decadent old man sitting on a pile of money... no longer striving for the next great conquest, instead just playing it safe and relishing the mistreatment of Cratchet. ("The riskier the road, the greater the profit." "Expand or die.")
The Ghost of Management Consulting would show Scrooge the clumsy entrepreneurial endeavours of his newphew Fred - and remind him that if one of these schemes someday achieves success, than it would be in Scrooge's best interest to be on Fred's good side when that happens - and to make himself a share-holder. ("Exploitation begins at home". "Treat people in your debt like family - exploit them.") Scrooge would come to recognize the potential to be gained from investing in Fred's ventures - and the potential of taking advantage of his relationships with family members as a means of networking and exploring new opportunities.
The Ghost of Forward-Looking Analysis would show Scrooge the cost/benefit projections of different potential changes to Cratchet's salary, and the expected drop in productivity if Tiny Tim were to die... State-mandated bereavement leave, loss of focus as a result of depression, etc. ("Employees are the rungs on the ladder of success. Don't hesitate to step on them." "After you've exploited someone, it never hurts to thank them. That way, it's easier to exploit them next time.") He would also show Scrooge the end result of his excessively conservative approach to business - failure to take risks and effectively leverage his accumulated wealth would lead to his ultimate decline as more ambitious competitors gradually overtaking his business. Scrooge is therefore convinced of the importance of small token gestures of appreciation to his employees, as well as the importance of remaining truly competitive.
In the end, Scrooge would be reminded that, even with his accumulated wealth there are always new business ventures to explore - that despite his advanced years, the remainder of his life still lies open like a blank accounting sheet - and that mistreating workers and exploiting family, while an enjoyable benefit of wealth, should not merely be something done for its own sake, but rather as a means to achieve greater financial success.
Bow-ties are cool.
Living in continental Europe, I find the statement that A Christmas Carol is "eternal and universal" amusing and sad at the same time. Let's face it, outside of Anglo-Saxon countries, A Christmas Carol is obscure at best. The same goes for Star Trek, although you might get a little more name recognition there, just because its later incarnations are occasionally on TV (dubbed into the local language) - but it gets lost, more or less, among all the other U.S. TV cruft that gets dubbed, broadcast at odd hours, and forgotten.
Americans should travel more. It sounds like this particular OP has never been outside the continental 48.
Come on, just do it. Even a trip to Canada will broaden your horizons. (Although it's possible that A Christmas Carol is beaten to death every year there, too.)
Om