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Entry tags:

star trek xi - pavel chekov

audio;

[Filtered to the Deities]

If I may discuss yet another exchange with you, please, I would be grateful.

[Public]

It is nice to have the City quiet again, but yesterday was too quiet. Why are people so reckless about what they lick?

[City: don't answer that question.]

The snow is good. It reminds me of home, but warmer, and with more sun. If we were in Petersburg, there would be less than eight hours of daylight today, and we would likely not see the sun for the clouds. The temperature would be maybe twenty below, Celsius, without wind--possibly colder. I think the Neva would be frozen by now.

This is March, April weather. Anyone who is cold now should be glad that the City is so mild.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

About as fluent as he is in Yiddish, which is to say, I know if someone's insulting me, and I can insult them right back. That, and order food.

Now you only need to learn to say, "I don't know how to speak Italian." That is an important thing to know in any language, I think. That and vulgarities.

The first thing I learned how to say in Italian was when I was ten. It was "go fuck yourself."

[He's definitely got the vulgarities covered.]

Truthfully, I understand Italian a lot better than I speak it.

[Which is just great for listening in to conversations you're not supposed to be able to understand.]

Do you speak any Italian, or is that one of the few languages you didn't manage to pick up?

Very useful--that phrase and understanding a language. I'm not fluent in all of the languages I mentioned, but they are decipherable.

[Eavesdropping? Why, they do have something in common besides their heritage!]

You found me out. I am wholly ignorant when it comes to Italian.

Well, you can't know every language. Although I get the feeling that someone like you would probably like to try.

Someone like me? I am a physicist, not a linguist.

You're intelligent, and probably a hard worker. You could probably become a linguist.

I think that it takes more than that, but I am flattered, thank you.

Would you teach me a few words of Italian, maybe? I would trade languages with you.

Sure, I can do that. I imagine you want to learn the swearing first, right?

First, I would like to learn to say, "I don't speak Italian."

[He laughs, then clears his throat, switching to Italian.]

I don't speak Italian.

[It's true, his accent isn't the best, but it's intelligible, at least.]

I don't speak Italian.

[If anything, Chekov's accent is worse. He's terrible with them.]

Close?

Close enough.

[A pause.]

Although my Italian associates would probably make fun of your accent.

Everyone makes fun of my accent, regardless of the language.

Now I will tell you a good Klingon insult: hab sosli' quch.

[Incidentally, Chekov's Klingon accent is better than most of his accents.]

Okay, what's that one mean, and who can I say it to that'll actually understand it?

I recommend not saying it to a Klingon. It means, I think, "Your mother has a smooth forehead."

My friend Uhura would understand, but it sounds angry. I find it satisfying to say.

So having a smooth forehead is bad? Guess it's one of those things that makes more sense in the original language.

It is if you're a Klingon.

Yes, it's... idiomatic? I am almost as bad with idioms as I am with accents.

I don't think there're any Klingons here.

[Whatever a Klingon is. He's still unclear on that.]

Okay, what other Italian stuff do you need to know?

I hope not. They are vicious.

Vulgarities?

Sure, vulgarities we can definitely do. My favorite one is vaffanculo. It basically means "fuck off" or "fuck you." It's useful.

But it sounds elegant. Most vulgarities sound... vulgar.

Italian always sounds elegant. Still, wouldn't recommend saying it to someone who speaks the language.

I will be careful how I wield my new-found power.

[He laughs.]

If you get the urge to say it, you can say it to me. I won't take offense. Usually.

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