The Klingon Language Lab

he third CD in Star Trek: Klingon is an interactive learning program that teaches Klingon (or "tlhIngon") vocabulary. The words are divided into categories such as Food, Weapons, Myths and Legends, and Curses. For each word there's a picture, such as a Ferengi for coward. There's also a short video clip of Gowron pronouncing the word. His pronunciations are far more gruff and vehement than the other, more careful version, and his eyes bug out for emphasis. Most of the terms have an extra audio explanation by Mark Okrand, the creator of the Klingon language, that further clarifies the meaning and perhaps gives its origin.

The icing on the cake, though, is a voice recognition system that allows a user with a microphone to try the language. The program analyzes pronunciation mistakes and Mark Okrand gives context-sensitive feedback. Correct pronunciations are given an accuracy rating, so users can learn the difference between just being understood and true mastery.

As a bonus, this CD has an audio program, Power Klingon--Highlights aimed at the business traveler heading to the Empire. Narrated by Michael Dorn, (who plays Worf on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine), this program gives insight into the commercial aspect of Klingon life.

Although the Language Lab's presentation is comprehensive, with drills, illustrations and the like, it's quite disappointing that the program teaches no grammar. What good are words (except curses) without knowing how to string them together to form coherent Klingon gargles? Even a basic primer would have enhanced this CD tremendously.

ack to Games.