Why do so many Klingons seem to have names that don even fit into Klingon phonology?
(Mark Shoulson, Tue, 10 Sep 1996) Now, here’s a new little tidbit of info. I have to write up a proper report (someday) about the Star Trek 30th anniversary celebration I just came back from, but Marc Okrand did mention something relevant to this discussion in a panel he was holding. Why do so many Klingons seem to have names that don’t even fit into Klingon phonology? It’s because Klingons are a people (like some Terran cultures) that sometimes take “outsider” names. These are names that are for use with people outside the culture or social unit; names for the offworlders to call them. (I’ve heard there are some cultures on Earth where it is sensible to say “I don’t know what my name is.” People there have a private name, known to few or none, a name that’s used in his presence, and a name that’s used to refer to him when he’s not there, which may or may not be the same as any other… and may or may not be complimentary. And may also vary by locale, so I might know what one group of
