Sì'eyng a ftu Na'rìng #7: multiple attributive adjectives; gerunds; nations

[wm.annis]

Multiple Attributive Adjectives (#23)

During this session we spoke much of a small, pretty bird.  The question is how to attach multiple attributives to a single noun.  So far, our only evidence of this is to sandwich the noun between the two adjectives:

  lora yayo ahì'i

This is still acceptable.  If you want to either (1) put the adjectives on the same side of the noun or (2) use more than two adjectives, you break the adjectives out into an attributive clause:

  yayo a lu lor sì hì'i

In case you all don't read the comments on Frommer's blog regularly, this related to a question I asked about a turn of phrase just before the workshop.  If you want to use an adverb on an attributive adjective, it is "particularly idiomatic" to yank that out into an attributive clause, too:

  yayo a lor lu nìtxan a very beautiful bird

However, you can use the adverb next to the adjective so long as it doesn't intrude between the noun and the adjective, yayo alor nìtxan.


Complex Gerund Phrases

This session was all about the joys of eating grubs.    The question is how to say "eating teylu is fun."  In English, we can use a gerund construction, and even though a gerund is a sort of noun it can still take a direct object.  After a great deal of discussion, it was decided to forbid arguments (subjects, direct objects) to Na'vi gerunds.  If you need a complex gerund phrase like English "eating teylu, you need to use a fwa/a fì'u clauses:

  Fwa yom teylut 'o' lu. Eating teylu is fun.

But the bare gerund is still fine, too:

  Tìyusom 'o' lu Eating is fun.


Names of Nations and Languages

Paul prefers to use names that approximate the native name for languages and countries.  So, Sweriye for Sweden, rather than Switìn or the like.

[Nyx]

Yay, I had a feeling the adjectives would need another clause ^^

Thanks for the update I have some catching up to do

[Kemaweyan]

Thanks So, it's impossible to say

  yayo ahì'i sì alor

right?

[wm.annis]

Thanks So, it's impossible to say

  yayo ahì'i sì alor

right?

Right.

[`Eylan Ayfalulukanä]

After a great deal of discussion, it was decided to forbid arguments (subjects, direct objects) to Na'vi gerunds.  If you need a complex gerund phrase like English "eating teylu, you need to use a fwa/a fì'u clauses:

  Fwa yom teylut 'o' lu. Eating teylu is fun.

But the bare gerund is still fine, too:

  Tìyusom 'o' lu Eating is fun.

What exactly does the fwa do in the first example? Would things be different in the verb were intransitive?

[omängum fra'uti]

The verb which fwa is working with is intransitive - the verb is lu
fì'u 'o' lu
This thing is fun

What thing?  This eating teylu thing.
Fì'u a yom teylut 'o' lu
This eating teylu thing is fun

[`Eylan Ayfalulukanä]

The verb which fwa is working with is intransitive - the verb is lu
fì'u 'o' lu
This thing is fun

Darnit. i am staying up too late! 

What thing?  This eating teylu thing.
Fì'u a yom teylut 'o' lu
This eating teylu thing is fun
[/quote]

So fwa here s simply 'thing' (nominative), and not some sort of placeholder. This does make sense.

[omängum fra'uti]

It is both.  Fwa is literally fì'u a - this thing which.  But the "thing" there IS a placeholder for something that is being described.