'aplo and qoSta'

This is a conversation between Jon Brown, the translator of Euro Talk's Learn Klingon, and Chris Lipscombe, admin of this website, about the words for container 'aplo' and ribbon qoSta'. It originally occured on Facebook, but is now unavailable at it's original link:

JB:

I've seen talk about 'aplo' and qoSta' on the mailing list but as that and the whole KLI website is down I thought I respond here.
'aplo' = a general term for a small container.
qoSta' = a ribbon like tape (i.e. the physical quality)

CL:

So both ribbon and tape are qoSta'? Anything that is long, flat, thin and flexible is qoSta'?

JB:

When finalising Euro Talk's Learn Klingon with Marc in one of my emails I said:

I therefore thought 'aplo' is a kind of general term for small container. If that's close and qoSta' refers to the ribbon like tape in a cassette and ribbon type film in a film cartridge then wab qoSta' 'aplo' is like "sound tape cartridge" and film is like "image recorder tape"

The relevant part of his reply was:

Regarding the new words qoSta', 'aplo', mIllogh, 'echletHom, Qal -- Your characterization of them is right! mIllogh is actually not a new word. That was introduced at a qepHom in Germany last year. The others are new.
- Marc

CL:

Film and magnetic tape work in completely different ways, so is it just describing the qualities of the material and not what the material is used for?

JB:

Exactly Chris so that opens the way for measuring tape, sticky tape and similar type words.

CL:

juvmeH qoSta' - "measuring tape"? qoSta' Hum = "sticky tape"?
jIb qoSta' = "hair ribbon"? nob qoSta' = the ribbon you use to tie up a gift?
Perhaps it's like a flat version of SIrgh?

JB:

Obviously what's classed as small with regard to 'aplo' is still open to interpretation but we at least have the Monopoly box as the large example of small container. Knowing that Marc was working on the Eurotalk translations at exactly the same time as the Monopoly ones I suspect the box came first and used that for the cassette and (film) cartridge and batteries second.
I think a flat version of SIrgh is probably a great way of looking at it.