Topic: Law

[wm.annis]

Our wiki: http://wiki.learnnavi.org/index.php?title=L_E_P/Law


While the Na'vi will not have written and codified laws of the sort contemporary humans have to deal with, it seems likely there will be rules.  We have the word rule, after all, koren, and Eytukan apparently expected to be able to "lay down the law" and be obeyed.  Further discussions of this have popped up in this sub-forum as part of the 20 questions topics.

In ancient Greek the word νόμος  (nomos) covered not just "law" as we think of it, but the word custom, tradition.  There's no particular reason to believe the Na'vi are completely homogenous, so different tribes might have different customs.  We only see one clan in the film.  So,

law, custom, tradition
 This is not our custom, but the horse people do paint themselves up that way.
 It is the tradition to sing this way.
 She is still too young to know our laws.

How do group decisions get made?  Does the eyktan just issue rules, or are things discussed?  One hopes big decisions get discussion.  Also, when two tribes have a dispute, might they not get together to talk things over, either on their own or with an intermediary?

council, meeting
 The council discussed what to do about the Sky people.

Many pre-literate cultures hold skilled public speaking in high regard.  In some places, the verbal artistry can be quite elaborate and difficult.  The Na'vi don't seem to go that route, but we could still use the word,

make a speech, speak in council
 Jake gives terrible speeches.

Once everyone has had their say, the leaders have to make a decision.  Prrton already mention the idea of planning in a singular context, but

deliberate, plan, come to decisions
 We must plan what to do about the sky people.
 They didn't plan well.

[Prrton]

I agree these are all important.

I'm curious about the strength of law vs. rule vs. tradition, though. This and the topic of council would seem to need some kind of feedback from the "top."

Meeting for the purpose of consensus is also relevant to what we have to do within the community here too.

Would love to have these.

[Alìm Tsamsiyu]

Yep - These are definitely things that Cameron would need to provide input on, and it seems like many of these words would be good ones to fit in with Keyl's (I think it was his?) suggestion to make our 20 questions to Cameron bilingual with blanks in it.

Anyway, these words have my vote for being placed on the list.