There appears to be some overlap between Klingon and Terran concepts of music, but much remains unclear — both musically and terminologically. Still, here are a few key terms and expressions that are known:

• QoQ – music (musical sound, whether vocal or instrumental)
• bom – to sing or chant (also the noun: a song or chant)
• bom mu' – lyrics (literally: song words)
• qon – to compose or record (songs are not “created” so much as “captured” or “written down”)

Klingons often treat songs as something to be discovered or hunted, rather than invented. The verb qon, used in this context, implies that a composer is more like a recorder — someone who documents what is already “out there.”

Speaking and Saying

The verb jatlh ("speak") takes as its object whatever is being said — a language, a speech, a lecture, or a specific phrase. The indirect object (the listener) is marked using -vaD ("for, to").

• tlhIngan Hol Dajatlh – You speak Klingon.
• SoQ Dajatlh – You deliver a speech. (SoQ – speech)
• qama'pu'vaD tlhIngan Hol Dajatlh – You speak Klingon to the prisoners.
• qama'pu'vaD SoQ Dajatlh – You deliver a speech to the prisoners.

When the hearer is first or second person, the pronominal prefix typically used for objects is interpreted as referring to the indirect object (the listener). Since “you” or “I” cannot be the object of jatlh (you cannot “speak” a person), the object in such cases must be what is spoken, and the person is the recipient of the speech.

• qajatlh – I speak to you.
• Sajatlh – I speak to you (plural).
• chojatlh – You speak to me.
• tlhIngan Hol qajatlh – I speak Klingon to you.

Quotations

jatlh, along with similar verbs like ja' ("tell") and HIt ("command"), may be used to introduce direct quotations. The quoted phrase can come either before or after the verb:

• tlhIngan jIH jatlh – He/she says, "I am a Klingon."
• jatlh tlhIngan jIH – He/she says, "I am a Klingon."

When the speaker is first or second person, the verb takes the pronominal prefix indicating "no object":

• tlhIngan jIH jIjatlh – I say, "I am a Klingon."
• tlhIngan jIH bIjatlh – You say, "I am a Klingon."

Care should be taken with prefixes, as they can change the meaning significantly:

• tlhIngan Hol Dajatlh – You speak Klingon.
• tlhIngan Hol bIjatlh – You say "Klingon language."

The first example means you know and use the Klingon language. The second means you simply said the phrase "Klingon language." The difference is subtle but important.