This came about of course because a certain cactus-brat decided that it would be a good idea to put a bug in my other half's ear, so let's hope just hope that I manage not to make a fool of myself. If I can't manage to do this properly, then at least the average traveler will be able to have a fairly good laugh.
I decided to start a little early, while I am waiting for my new pup to arrive, because, well, the idea is fresh in my head, and because I thought that some people might find some of my choices interesting. If you have gotten this far, then no doubt you realize that I am a geek from way back, but the title does have a meaning beyond my own quirky sense of humor. When training a service animal, in particular, one who will be expected to help with mobility assistance, you want commands that won't be common, won't pop into the head of every wise-assed hick to come down the pipe. Without being to crude, the last thing I need is to be walking with my assistance targ, only to have Bubba the Brainless decide it might be funny to shout the word 'sit' at the top of his one remaining lung while I was strolling through the mall just to see if the animal is properly trained, or, hoping that my animal would respond to him just so that he could see her sit, and me take a header down to the hard ground. So to avoid such an undignified situation, I decided to train little M in Klingon, like a proper geek.
Our mama targ has already decided that his was something new that she wanted to learn, (she heard me listening to my power klingon discs and decided to perk up and pay attention) and is learning quickly and well. I have no doubt that with her help, little M will pick it up quickly and be more than happy.
I was lucky, some time ago to inherit an audio copy of Power Klingon, read by Michael Dorn, and was more than thrilled to find that the book included a section on animal training. That was the first time I thought that I might like to try training my animals using the warrior's tongue. So when I found out that I was to receive a new pup, I began looking seriously into Klingon training techniques. I loaded my Power Klingon tracks onto my PADD (known to most earthers as a cell phone or MP3 player) and began listening to them whenever I had a spare moment to reacquaint myself with what, believe it or not, was my son's first spoken language. (yes, at three Draco spoke Klingon more fluently, and more clearly than he spoke english, go figure.) Mama targ soon began to respond to the commands without prompting or argument and seemed much happier for it. I also checked the nets, and discovered several pages dedicated to Klingon training techniques. Also, for words or commands that were not included in my books, I was exceedingly happy to discover that Bing's Translator page includes two separate English to Klingon translation protocols. One gives the user a translation using standard alphabetic characters, and the other will actually show you the translation, using the imperial Klingon alphabet, illegible to most earthers, but possibly useful should one require printed material for interplanetary visitors.
There you have it Cactus-brat, my first diary, as requested. I hope that you and others are pleased with it. So that you have them for future reference, I will include links for the training materials that I am using, just in case you decide to follow in my footsteps.:) And until next time Qapla!
Klingon Impirial
Bing Translator
Power Klingon