7.1.0
Commands

In formal Klingon, commands use the appropriate imperative verb prefix (such as yI- or tI-). However, in informal or urgent speech — especially on the battlefield — Klingons often give clipped commands, omitting prefixes or other grammatical markers.

Omitting the Imperative Prefix

The imperative prefix is often left off, leaving just the bare verb:

  • Proper: yIbaH – Fire (the torpedoes)!
    Clipped: baH
  • Proper: wIy yIcha' – Show the tactical display!
    Clipped: wIy cha'
    (wIy – tactical display, cha' – project/display)
  • Proper: He chu' yIghoS – Follow a new course!
    Clipped: He chu' ghoS
    (He – course, chu' – be new, ghoS – go, proceed)

Noun-Only Commands

If the object noun is obvious and the required action is understood from context, simply saying the noun can serve as a command:

  • Proper: chuyDaH yIlaQ – Fire the thrusters!
    Clipped: chuyDaH – Thrusters!
  • Proper: HaSta yIcha' – Show the visual display!
    Clipped: HaSta – Visual (display)!

Dropping Noun Suffixes

Sometimes, even noun suffixes are left out in clipped speech. The imperative prefix is usually retained in these cases.

  • Proper: jolpa'Daq yIjaH – Go to the transport room!
    Clipped: jolpa' yIjaH

Omitting both the imperative prefix and noun suffix at once is uncommon. Clipping is typically minimal and strategic — used for speed and emphasis, but not at the expense of clarity.

qurgh - This last example is probably silly to keep since -Daq isn't needed here anyway because yI- can have an object in it. To-Do: Look through canon to see if there is a sentence with that could replace it.