In the following exchange, instead of asking for words, translator Peter Karas ( PK) had made suggestions to paraphrase missing words. The following are Okrand 's ( MO) reactions.

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PK: paradox → tlhoch'eghbogh ngoD Qur

MO: tlhoch 'eghbogh ngoD Qur (and such things as tlhochchuqbogh ngoD) may perhaps describe or define “paradox,” but if the word comes up several times in the story, it would be best to have a single word: qIypIr.

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PK: misconception → yajHa'ghach

MO: I think yajHa 'ghach would be more like “misunderstanding,” which is not the same thing as “misconception” (an idea or opinion or notion that 's held, but is false or wrong). Possibilities for “misconception” are qech, nger, or vuD followed by teHbe ' or qarbe '.

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PK: solid body → lep tu 'qom

MO: Does lep by itself work here? If not, perhaps use Hap Sub “solid matter” or Dol Sub “solid entity” (or even Doch Sub “solid thing”).

PK: The sentence is: “of course a solid body can exist” so lep alone does not seem right. Dol Sub will work.

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PK: instantaneous → qaStaHvIS paghna' qubbID poH

I tried to say: “while exactly no time passes / during a period of exactly no time”

MO: As formed here, this phrase (“while a span of definitely nothing happens” or something like that) seems closer to the adverb “instantaneously.” The English given here is an adjective (“instantaneous”). Is the adverbial meaning intended? I assume, from the Klingon, that the point here is that something happens in no time at all (rather than it happens quickly or immediately). What is the instantaneous thing here?

PK: It is indeed adjectival here: The phrase in the story is: “Can an instanteaneous object exist?” meaning: Does a physical object exist even if its existance lasts only for a period of no time at all?

MO: Maybe poH qubbID Hutlhbogh Dol “entity that lacks (a) time span”?

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PK: space → ngeHbej

MO: This is really “cosmos” (the universe as a whole, or something like that). For “space” in the mathematical or geometrical sense, as in “three-dimensional space,” use ngeD'on.

Four-Dimension geometry - loS roDSer ngeD 'onQeD

dimension of space - ngeD 'on roDSer

mathematical plane - mI 'QeD 'Ivqong

three planes of Space - wej ngeD 'on 'Ivqong(mey)

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PK: geometry → tu 'qom mI 'QeD

MO: Use ngeD 'onQeD.

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PK: philosophical people → qo ' chulghach, Ho 'latbeD je qelbogh ghotpu'

MO: chulghach is not a word (there should be another suffix before the -ghach). Be that as it may … what does “philosophical people” mean in this context? Philosophers (people who study existence, knowledge, thought, etc. — people like Plato and Socrates)? Or just people who are thoughtful, contemplative, meditative, studious, mull over ideas, etc.?

PK: The idea of the term “philosophical people” is that they are not professional philosophers (like Plato and Socrates) but rather

ordinary people expressing philosophical thoughts in a certain situation. It is only a subtle difference, and none that is critical to the story, so I 'd be happy with a term for “philosopher”. (And yes, I plead guilty, I was aware that I broke the -ghach rule)

MO: You can use SIb “be philosophical, contemplative”: ghotpu' SIb

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PK: flat surface → beb beQ

MO: beb (or, MOre fully, bIQ beb) is used for the surface of water (surface of a lake, for example), but a more general term for “surface” (also for “plane”) is 'Ivqong. So a “flat surface” would be 'Ivqong beQ.

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PK: invest all one's money → malja' ghunta qotmeH HuchDaj naQ peS

MO: What is ghunta here? Is qotmeH HuchDaj Hoch peS sufficient? (I think Hoch here is better than naQ.)

PK: malja' ghunta was my idea of “stocks”. I guess qotmeH HuchDaj Hoch peS works fine. (I went with naQ as I regarded “money” as incountable concept – as you can only count the Dollars/DeQ etc., but will certainly use Hoch as you say so.

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PK: some sleight-of-hand trick → mIn tojwI' tIlqemchaw'

MO: Does this refer to sleight-of-hand in the more literal sense (involving manual dexterity when performing a magic trick, for example)? Or is it being used in the more general sense of deception (not necessarily involving a magic trick or hands)? The use of tIlqemchaw' here suggests a device of some sort, not just a trick. Is that the intent?

PK: There is a device involved, but this is not the main point. “sleight-of-hand trick” may as well be replaced with “trickery” or “cheap trick” or “he is going to try to fool us in some way”.

MO: Can you just make use of the verb toj here, maybe tojmeH tIlqemchaw')?

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PK: ivory → 'e 'levan pu ' Hap

MO: Ivory isn 't necessarily from elephants only, though it stereo- typically is. (I don 't know the source of ivory in this particular story.) It could made from the teeth (a tusk is a tooth, not a horn, pu ') of a several different mammals. So, unless the story specifically refers to ivory from elephant tusks, I 'd go with Ho 'ya ' (yes, a new word).

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PK: brass → rom 'on Sorpuq

MO: I think rom 'on Sorpuq is sufficient (like jey ' Sorpuq is “bronze”).

PK: spoke of a wheel → rutlh ngaDmoHwI' naQmey

MO: I think rutlh naQ (for one spoke) is sufficient.

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PK: eggshell china → QIm pel 'aQ rurbogh nagh ngop'e'

MO: I 'm guessing the point is that the items are fragile, not that they have the glaze or color/texture known as “eggshell.” If so, perhaps nagh roq vIqraq(mey) (or nagh roq ngop if the text is referring specifically to plates) would do.

Alternatively, you could go with nagh 'al'on instead of nagh roq. (See note on nagh on page 100.)

PK: our host → jeSmoHwI'ma

MO: Perhaps rItwI'ma', if that fits the facts of the story. (I assume it doesn't mean “host” like the host of a TV show or the host that greets you in a restaurant, but I may be wrong.) A common way to refer to the organizer of an event, the person who is throwing a party or providing a dinner or the like is rangwI'.

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PK: consumptive (tuberculosis) → nupwI' rop

MO: “Consumptive” is an adjective or else a noun referring to a sick person; “tuberculosis:” (a noun) is a disease. What is the intended meaning/usage here? Assuming that the ailment is “consumption,” that 's frequently, but not necessarily, tuberculosis, so tagh rop probably wouldn 't be right here. nup refers to a decrease in size, weight, whatever. The idea here is “wasting away,” so maybe Sab would be better.

PK: It seems to be used as a noun describing the disease in the original story. Be as it may, I can use the term SabwI ' rop.

MO: Okay!

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PK: sphinx → layyan, Human je wIch Dep

MO: This is a creature from Greek mythology (or else it 's the Egyptian sphinx; the Egyptian sphinx does not have wings and

the Greek one does). Since this creature is so specific to Earth (and even MOre specifically Greek or Egyptian culture), I 'd just go with SIvIngqIS, and on first reference perhaps add 'elaDya ' or 'elaDya ' tIQ or maSIr in there somehow. Or describe it (and name it) on first reference, and then refer to it as SIvIngqIS alone after that. If describing it, you could call it a Hew, if that makes sense for the story, or else a Dep or namlIgh “creature of any kind (actual or mythological / fictional / imaginary).”

PK: The book says “It was of white marble, in shape something like a winged sphinx”. So I will go with a description on the first occasion and later on simply call ist SIvIngqIS. Not sure if I need namlIgh here, but it may be helpful on other occasions.

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PK: Dresden china → DIreS 'en nagh ngop Hap

MO: Dresden china is not just plates — it 's other kinds of porcelain things, too. Is the reference in the story specifically to plates? If not, ngop should probably not be there. Dresden china is distinguished from other china or porcelain by its intricate design/decoration. In the story, is the point that the china is made by the Dresden company, or is “Dresden china” used to describe something else? (If the latter, maybe ngop is okay because it 's being used figuratively). Is just saying 'IH or 'IHqu ' enough? If using “Dresden” is enough to clarify what the material is, fine. If further clarification is needed, use nagh 'al 'on (rather than nagh alone).

nagh refers to “stone” and also to “ceramic material.” “Porcelain,” a particular type of ceramic, is nagh 'al'on. Also, I'm guessing “Chinese porcelain” here refers to more than plates (that is, it refers to anything — bowls, vases, figurines — made of this material). If so, leave out ngop and use vIqraq instead. If it 's referring to the material rather than objects

made out of the material, Hap can be used, but it 's not necessary.

PK: Phoenician → vo''I'nIySa tuq'a'

MO: If used as an adjective (“Phoenician statue”) vonI'SIya' is enough; if referring to people, add -ngan. Is there a reason (from the story) that tuq'a ' is here?

PK: I used tuq'a' to express the Phoenician people. But it is not necessary, I 'll stick with vonI'SIya'.

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PK: silk → 'ughDuq ghargh manta' SIrgh Hap

MO: I'm guessing (though I may be wrong) that in the story they 're not referring to thread made of silk, but rather fabric made of silk. If so, that would be just manta' weSjech.

PK: I'll use manta' weSjech instead. (I obviously did not remember the word weSjech at the time.)

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PK: nettle → yulmoH San 'emDer

MO: How about DuQwI' San'emDer?

PK: I would interpret DuQwI' San'emDer as some kind of cactus or thistle (which I know is naQjej). Technically a nettle does have stinging needles injecting venom into the skin, but the main sensation is the ichy feeling. That is why I chose yulmoH. Maybe 'aw'wI ' is an alternative if you are not comfortable with yulmoH?

MO: Good point. I think I prefer 'aw'wI' to yulmoH.

PK: nature → qo' tlhab

MO: I assume “nature” here refers to the natural world, the physical world, natural forces, and so on — not something like “characteristic.” If so, would qo' ruj “physical world” work? Or even just 'umber “environment”?

PK: It is “nature” in contrast to civilisation, cities, man-made environments. 'umber will probably work fine.

MO: If clarification or specification is needed, you could go with 'umber but.

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PK: communism → nuvpu' rapchu' nugh

MO: I 'm guessing this is referring to the political system associated with Karl Marx, and not a more general sort of political philosophy. If so, it 's a loanword: qa'mun qangtlhIn

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PK: preventive medicine → roplu'pa' vorbogh Hergh QeD

MO: HerghQeD is “pharmacology.” I think what's intended here is 'on'aSQeD. For “preventive medicine,” perhaps botwI' 'on'aSQeD.

PK: I did not know the word 'on'aSQeD at the time of translating.

Would rop botwI' 'on'aSQeD be clearer than without rop?

MO: Yes. It is clearer with the rop.

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PK: erotic → ngaghwI' mIw Hoy

MO: Given the literal translation of the Klingon (“sophisticated copulator procedure” or something like that), I'm guessing that the needed word is “eroticism” — that is, a noun not an adjective. Maybe vIqraq “artifact, work of art” instead of mIw Hoy? And maybe even parmaq rather than ngaghwI ' since Klingon “love” is on the aggressive side.

PK: It actually is “eroticism”. It is not elaborated whether it is artwork or the “art of lovemaking”. Would parmaq meHghem work?

MO: Yes, assuming that it 's referring to erotic art. meHghem “art” includes visual art and performance art.

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PK: grindstone → tapmeH nagh'a'

MO: Is “grindstone” used in the literal sense (a stone used to grind things) or is it used metaphorically (to indicate hard and continuous work)? If it's a literal stone, tapmeH nagh('a') or tapwI' nagh('a') should be okay. If it's a metaphor, I'd need context; the English (and German?) metaphor might not work for Klingon.

PK: It is used in a metaphorical sense: “We are kept keen on the grindstone of pain, but finally that grindstone begins to break”

MO: The kind of stone Klingons use to sharpen their knives, bat'leths, and so on, is called a Do'ol nagh. Can that work?

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PK: verdigris → raghbogh Sorpuq SuD

MO: The coating or crust or patina that develops on certain metals is layyub. If the color matters, SuD should also be used.

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PK: gynaeceum → ('InSong) 'uma'mey pIr

MO: Presumably this is “fertile (flower) petals.” … “Gynaeceum” is a building or part of a building for women in ancient Greek or Roman houses. I assume this is supposed to be “gynoecium,” the female reproductive organ of a flower.

PK: The story actually uses “gynaeceum” which I found is an alternative term for “gynoecium/gynoeceum”. And yes, we are talking about flowers. But it is not further described, someone just mentions that “the gynaeceum (of an unknown species of flower) is odd”.

MO: How about raS'ISHal (parallel to QImHal for animals)?

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Polynesia - polInISya'

lichen - namchIl 'atlhqam