Sesame Street Klingon
Those who were amused by my translation of "I Am A Little Teapot" into Lojban and back into English will be amused by Nick Nicholas' translation of the Sesame Street theme song into Klingon. I have long known of Nick through his involvement in the Lojban project, but I also knew he is a veritable polyglot, due to his interest in Klingon and Esperanto as well as several naturally-occurring languages.
Following is the English, translated into Klingon and back into English. A Klingon once said to an android, "I don't understand their humor either." Fortunately, that in itself is partly what's so funny!
| Sunny day | pem Hov jaj. | A day of the daytime star. |
|---|---|---|
| Sweepin' the clouds away | Haw'choHnIS 'eng 'ej Haj. | The clouds are compelled to commence fleeing, and are filled with dread. |
| On my way | ghoch vIghaj; | I have a destination; |
| to where the air is sweet. | 'ej pa' muDmo' jIbel. | and there, because of the atmosphere, I am pleased. |
| Can you tell me how to get, | chay' Sesame He vIghoS? | Describe to me immediately |
| how to get to Sesame Street? | SIbI' jIHvaD 'e' yIDel. | how to go to Sesame Street. |
| Come and play! | Quj yIlaj! | Accept the game! |
|---|---|---|
| Everythings A-O-kay. | HochvaD majatlhnIS: "maj!" | To all things we are compelled to say "Well done!" |
| Friendly neigh- | jupHey Da j- | The neighbours seem to behave in a friendly fashion, |
| bors there, that's were we meet. | Ilpu', 'ej pa' ma'el. | and there is where we enter! |
| Can you tell me how to get, | chay' Sesame He vIghoS? | Describe to me immediately |
| how to get to Sesame Street? | SIbI' jIHvaD 'e' yIDel. | how to go to Sesame Street. |
| It's a magic carpet ride, | wIch toQDujmeyDaq boghoS. | You go there in legendary Birds of Prey. |
|---|---|---|
| ev'ry door will open wide | 'ej Supawpu'DI', tugh poS, | And when you have arrived, the doors are soon |
| to happy people like you. | 'ej Qap lojmItmey SuQuchmo'. | open and functional, because you are happy. |
| Happy people like, | Qapchu' Quchlu'mo'. | Fully functional, because of there being happiness about. |
| what a beautiful | DaHjaj 'IHqu'bej | Today it is a truly beautiful |
| Sunny day... | pem Hov jaj... | day of the daytime star... |
On that note, here are pictures of "Big Bird of Prey."
Comments
fuzzyjelly on Oct. 8, 2005 2:10 PM
I am late with the comments, but this?
Best thing evar!!
desfontaines on Oct. 9, 2005 2:39 PM
Crap, now I can't get that tune out of my head! Aiiiyyeeeeeee! :)
the-leewit on Oct. 10, 2005 8:37 PM
My gracious, but this is freaking awesome...