I don't want to learn Na'vi but I'm writing a Fanfiction...

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Paul Frommer's
Language Workbook

[Catherss]

Yeah, you persuasive people, you...!

Okay, I think I understand. I'm gonna go thorough the Activity book (I think that will be the best way for me), maybe print it (It's 100 pages!) and try learn.

[Blue Elf]

There are also no synonyms.

I wouldn't say this - IMHO we'd find some, like pxel/na (like, as) or polpxay/holpxaype (how many). Basically, all -pe+ words can be considered as synonyms, as -pe+ can be attached from both sides. Also words like lor/sevin/sayrìp could be considered as synonyms, although they have specific usage (aren't interchangeable).

As for learning - I can describe what I did. First, try to learn a few base words. In beginner section there's sticky thread with list of commonly used words - it is good to know them. Then learn grammar, without it you get stuck. Na'vi in a nutshell is good for this (although a little outdated these days). This should allow you create some simple sentences.
To get more, use Le'eylan's  prezi lessons (sticky thread under learning resources). On download page you can get KP's Learn Na'vi easy way workbook. Get it and practise, it helps a lot.
If you do not understand something, try to find answer in beginner subforum or ask.
As for speaking, well, it is harder, but you can try to connect to team speak server (ts.learnnavi.org), there you sometimes can find someone who is good at speaking.

[`Eylan Ayfalulukanä]

Perhaps the toughest thing of all, though, is attribution, when you get into more complex sentences. This is places where you use a as a standalone word. This occurs because Na'vi allows (mostly) free word order. As a result, you can have things at the beginning of a sentence that might logically seem better at the end of a sentence (especially for English speakers). However, once you understand how to properly use this, it opens up a whole new world of creative writing. Before letting this discourage you, work through the simpler examples in KP's book. You can do a lot without having to get involved in some of the less common forms of attribution. But there are users here who freely use these forms (Tirea Aean, for one), so some of his sentences may not make sense when you first read them.

There are many people here that will be more than willing to help you over rough spots. Don't be afraid to ask questions, even if you have to ask a lot of them.

Another advantage of learning Na'vi, especially in the manner you will learn it here, is that it will make almost any other language easier to learn.

[Ithisa Kíranem]

Surely I agree with that last comment! Many languages, if literally translated into Na'vi, still make grammatical sense.

For example, in Japanese (a topic-prominent language) "象は鼻が長い" translates into English as "Elephant (is) nose long" which doesn't make sense since English is not topic-prominent. Neither is Na'vi, but Na'vi can model topic-prominent languages with the topical case: "Elefantìri ontu ngim (lu)".

[Catherss]

Thanks for replies

I might not get round to learing Na'vi 'till the summer holidays where I'll proably have too much time  >.<

[P.A.'li makto]

Thanks for your help. I've figured part of the prayer I want : Eywa, help the child and her mother, help them be strong

Ma Eywa, srung si 'evengur sì peyä sa'nokur, srung si mefor fte livu txur

MOE, it rhymes!  
(Btw, I often pray when driving in heavy traffic, and I say not only "Eywa" but also "Nawma Sa'nok" (which is Great Mother). You may use it too, Catherss, if you like.)

[Catherss]

Haha, last few days I've had fun calling people at school moron in Na'vi (can't remember how you spelling it, 'Scoun'?

Funny because that had no idea what I was saying. Only one guy knows what I'm saying and I almost persuaded him to learn Na'vi with me but not quite there, I think.

[Catherss]

This is the beginning of the FanFiction (I've wrote more, but I love this )


Sometimes I have these dreams of flying, flying over an ancient and forever forest.

Sometimes at night and the forest glowed, animals scuttled under me and birds would fly with me.

Only everyone has to wake up.

But I didn’t.

Because I wasn’t dreaming.

Comments?

[Ithisa Kíranem]

Haha, last few days I've had fun calling people at school moron in Na'vi (can't remember how you spelling it, 'Scoun'?

Funny because that had no idea what I was saying. Only one guy knows what I'm saying and I almost persuaded him to learn Na'vi with me but not quite there, I think.

It is spelled "skxawng" and pronounced "sk--ahwng".

[Niri Te]

This is the beginning of the FanFiction (I've wrote more, but I love this )


Sometimes I have these dreams of flying, flying over an ancient and forever forest.

Sometimes at night and the forest glowed, animals scuttled under me and birds would fly with me.

Only everyone has to wake up.

But I didn’t.

Because I wasn’t dreaming.

Comments?

I like it, please post more.
Niri Te

[Catherss]

Haha, last few days I've had fun calling people at school moron in Na'vi (can't remember how you spelling it, 'Scoun'?

Funny because that had no idea what I was saying. Only one guy knows what I'm saying and I almost persuaded him to learn Na'vi with me but not quite there, I think.

It is spelled "skxawng" and pronounced "sk--ahwng".

Ah, I'll try to remember the spelling. I've been pronouncing it like it was in Avatar ('Neytiri calls me skxawng. It means moron.')

[`Eylan Ayfalulukanä]

The thing to take away from this is that the kx in skxawng is a digraph (two letters representing one single 'letter' or sound), and represents one of the three ejective consonants in Na'vi, namely Kx, Px and Tx They are all similar in that they are pronounced like forceful versions of their parent letters, without a forceful exhalation of error. If you do it right, it will come out as a 'click' or 'pop'.

Spend some quality time with 'Na'vi in a Nutshell', especially the beginning sections, where the alphabet is introduced. Until you are aware of the sounds available in the language, this kind of thing will keep tripping you up. Na'vi is easy to learn as languages go, but it has some things in it that are very different than most common natural languages.

There are also some excellent videos floating around by Ftitapfi (not sure that is spelled right) that will help you with pronunciation.

[Blue Elf]

This is the beginning of the FanFiction (I've wrote more, but I love this )


Sometimes I have these dreams of flying, flying over an ancient and forever forest.

Sometimes at night and the forest glowed, animals scuttled under me and birds would fly with me.

Only everyone has to wake up.

But I didn’t.

Because I wasn’t dreaming.

Comments?

Sounds well. Reminds me opening scene of Avatar 

[Catherss]

Haha, that's what I based it off