Topic: bow question

[Diegetes]

I have another proposition and I hope it's worth creating new topic.

We know that bow has a special role in Na'vi community and rather serves as their main weapon. Why there couldn't be a verb which would mean to shoot the bow/project, fire the arrows. I think it refers to a Paul Frommer's request about unique words. For me it would be so Na'vi.
There is such a word in ancient Greek, even two: τοξάζομαι and τοξεύω. Both are transitive and need object in genitive or accusative. They just mean shoot [the bow] at sb, sth. Hmm, It should be included to B or even C list.   

[Ataeghane]

One word is quite possible.... But, let me think about it... We often use "si" for making up new verbs, not always it means "use". So... maybe "tsko si"? What do you think about it?

[Lance R. Casey]

We have two known verbs for shoot: tem (intransitive) and toltem (transitive). There might still be words that apply to the bow exclusively, though; e.g. "to bow", as it were.

[roger]

What would "shoot" mean, if not w a bow? What else to Na'vi shoot with?

That said, Neytiri used her bow like a bo stick. Which verb would we use for striking like that?

[Lance R. Casey]

What would "shoot" mean, if not w a bow? What else to Na'vi shoot with?

The game mentions a crossbow (tskalep), and presumably they call the humans' use of projectile weapons something too.

[wm.annis]

We have two known verbs for shoot: tem (intransitive)

I really hope the intransitive sense means something like "a seed shot out of the pod."

[tsrräfkxätu]

What would "shoot" mean, if not w a bow? What else to Na'vi shoot with?

That said, Neytiri used her bow like a bo stick. Which verb would we use for striking like that?

Hungarians have nyilaz ("to arrow", i.e. to shoot a bow), lenyilaz ("to kill with arrows"), which are independent of the roots shoot or throw. Botoz ("to staff", beat with a staff) and vesszőz ("to stick") are also completely valid words, if not too often used anymore.

There is a verb I like a lot, suhint (strike, lit. "to whoosh"), an onomatopoeia from the sound a longish object makes when someone twirls it or strikes with it.

[Diegetes]

Well, now I don't know if there is a possibility (and necessity) of existing a word which I described in the first post. I would like to see it in the list but we have these two verbs to shoot. On other hand we can't point out an exact meaning. I also thought they rather concern humans' weapons. After your responds I'm not sure anymore. Still we would ask for examples of use of tem and toltem if we didn't have it.

One word is quite possible.... But, let me think about it... We often use "si" for making up new verbs, not always it means "use". So... maybe "tsko si"? What do you think about it?

Interesting. It might be a solution but I'm not convinced to the end since "si" AFAIR has a meaning do, make.

[Skxawng]

Considering that they also use Bolas, perhaps 'Loose' as opposed to 'shoot' would be more appropriate. They also might use slings or atlatls or other similar hunting weapons.

[Ataeghane]

Interesting. It might be a solution but I'm not convinced to the end since "si" AFAIR has a meaning do, make.

Yeah. Right. So... why not do bow, make bow?

[Diegetes]

Yeah. Right. So... why not do bow, make bow?

I'm afraid that what you wrote may mean something completely different than one certain action made with bow. I would say *tsko si might be a verb which describes all things Na'vi could do with a bow (it would indicate an engagement into action)). I see also another difficulty. I looked through Taronyu's dictionary and si is usually added to the abstractive nouns (ätxäle, srung, tìsraw, tsam) but not to things created by human (Na'vi) hand.

[Ataeghane]

You may be right. But I have some doubts.

I looked through Taronyu's dictionary and si is usually added to the abstractive nouns (ätxäle, srung, tìsraw, tsam) but not to things created by human (Na'vi) hand.

Hm... And kelku si? I'm afraid it is created by Na'vi hand.

[Diegetes]

Hmm, perhaps I should have named the problem in detail. We don't have si construction with a noun meaning tool. Kelku si (and similar tì'awm si – to camp), as I said, show generally in this case whole activity Na'vi take in those places.
I think we could still ask Paul Frommer for solving this problem in C list pointing at our attempts.

[Ataeghane]

Yes, now I understand.

I think we could still ask Paul Frommer for solving this problem in C list pointing at our attempts.

I couldn't agree more. We should add this to our list.