I'm a beginner. Where shall I start?

Started by s3aniie, January 02, 2010, 10:37:37 AM

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s3aniie

Hello,

I recently decided to try and learn Na'vi and wondered where to start, I have read some of the PDF's on the homepage but I just need pointing in the right direction on what would be the best thing to start on first.

Thanks, sean.

Tanhì'ite

Well, personally, I started with learning some of the more common vocabulary (I, you, me, thanks, hello, goodbye, etc.) and then moved to sentence structure. That way, I could compile simple sentences on the board, and let more experienced speakers correct them and help to hone my grammar as I studied it. And, of course, practice saying every word -- and the meaning -- as you type it, each time you type it. I found that helps me remember them.

The Pocket Guide, Compendium and Glossary were good documents for me to start with.

Good luck!

ma tsmukan : Tanhì'itan

Eywayä mokri

That's not really easy to answer, as everyone hasn't the same strategy or capacity to learn. :)

Anyway I began learning the words that were the most used on the forum, such as the greetings, thank you...and so on. :) During that time I also focused on understanding the grammar and how Na'vi is made. I went then to analyzing some simple sentences, trying to see how it was constructed and why. Then and only then I began making some simple sentences, paying attention to grammar, vocabulary and so. :)
°°We don't forget anyone, we only get used to their absence.°°

s3aniie

Ok, I shall try learn those words and remember them, theres also other things I don't understand like the language jargen and things like IPA? (International phonetic alphabet) is it a must? or is it easier to learn if you know these things?

abi

Quote from: s3aniie on January 02, 2010, 11:31:20 AM
Ok, I shall try learn those words and remember them, theres also other things I don't understand like the language jargen and things like IPA? (International phonetic alphabet) is it a must? or is it easier to learn if you know these things?

Well, seeing as Na'vi isn't really a "beginner" language (tìplltxe atìsngä'ikrr?), it'd be really beneficial to learn the language "jargen" (like cases, etc.). Given that Na'vi pronunciation was pretty much made to be easy for an English speaker, I'd think you could get away without learning the IPA. But really, learning it couldn't hurt (and would make future languages clearer)!

Ftiafpi

I'd start with the crash course in linguistics in the "useful links" thread above. From there I'd go to the skype chat and hang out. Lots of lurking too.

Kaltxì Palulukan!

kaltxì ma s3aniie
(hello s3aniie)

I have read all of the posts in this thread so far. They are valuable to you. Here is a link to the Na'vi Youtube videos currently made. It is nice to have video instruction.

http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=na'vi+language&search_type=&aq=f

Also, the www.Talknavi.com is helpful, but very spartan at this time. best to check in occasionally.

There have been audio clips, but some of them have been taken down. The problem with audio is often that the words go by so fast they all blur--especially when we are just beginning. And as far as Na'vi "not being a beginner's language. Ha! People around the world want to share this experience. This is not the domain of intellectual snobs. Together we will FIND A WAY to make it easy for beginners to learn. If only a handful of people ever learn Na'vi, it will be a dead language, and of no value at all.

The flash cards are lots of fun--and really are easy to use. Get them from the home page, while they are free!

As to the documents. I have downloaded 20-40 so far I believe. My favorites are these:

Navi Vocabulary two columns english.pdf  --This is easy to use and fun to look at. Great for memorizing words. It is much easier than the Na'vi dictionary, which you should also download.

The Linguistic-terminology-crash-course.pdf is rather hard to get at first, but it is very full of good knowledge. Stay with it. Read it three times (not at once of course) and you will never fear those fancy words again.

After you have read that once, and have closely looked at the Navi Vocabulary two columns english.pdf a few times, I would take a stab at the Learn-Navi-Pocket-Guide.pdf. This has a wealth of information, but it also has a lot of challenging concepts. But you will recognize things you already know, which will give you great confidence.

At that point, you should be ready for the more advanced PDFs.

I hope this has helped.

Irayo (thank you) for allowing me to help. I have been at this for just over one week, and around the 5th day it finally started to make sense. Please stay with it.

Quote from: s3aniie on January 02, 2010, 10:37:37 AM
Hello,

I recently decided to try and learn Na'vi and wondered where to start, I have read some of the PDF's on the homepage but I just need pointing in the right direction on what would be the best thing to start on first.

Thanks, sean.
2022 update: Working on the new astrology book. "How to read tarot" books are on Amazon, if you are into that sort of thing.
Okay, so the old podcast is here: https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/radioavatar It was goofy fun that ended too soon, but we had creative people. I hope we can get a new gang together (interested? PM me, let's make some magic!)
(Very old, outdated) Na'vi FUN activity book is here: But what are you doing? Let me know! :)

Tskxäozì Ewaoe

I recommend you learn the GRammar and Pronounciation at the same time with some basic vocab then after mastering the grammar we have here, go on to learning the vocab. Try out skxawng's grammar worksheets.

Motxokxen

start with the grammar, forget about the vocab till you get every aspect of how to say things.

then start analyzing sentences,

make your own sentences,

then start learning as much vocab as you can.

Doolio

i support these opinions:)

it is easy (and pretty futile) to memorize bunch of words and just stack them in a (meaningless) sentence. so, grammar first. when you get a grip on the basics, try to make some simple sentencies (i am a hunter, he tells stories), then go from that.
...taj rad...

Kaltxì Palulukan!

Quote from: Motxokxen on January 03, 2010, 01:38:26 PM
start with the grammar, forget about the vocab till you get every aspect of how to say things.

then start analyzing sentences,

make your own sentences,

then start learning as much vocab as you can.

With great respect for your intellect:

You do realize that not everyone can grasp the terms and concepts involved in grammar immersion. There is no immediate payoff either. New people need candy the most. By whipping them senselessly with rules and archaic terms before they can even say hello, you will drive many away--and they will tell the world how hard it is to learn, thereby tripling the rate of erosion.

Perhaps your method may work for some, but other methods must be made to stand beside yours as easy alternatives, so that we do not scare away great students before they can kame themselves.
2022 update: Working on the new astrology book. "How to read tarot" books are on Amazon, if you are into that sort of thing.
Okay, so the old podcast is here: https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/radioavatar It was goofy fun that ended too soon, but we had creative people. I hope we can get a new gang together (interested? PM me, let's make some magic!)
(Very old, outdated) Na'vi FUN activity book is here: But what are you doing? Let me know! :)

Motxokxen

oh yeah before the grammar you need to learn the sounds of the language.

use this PDF
http://www.learnnavi.org/docs/Navi-Alphabet.pdf