Na'vi dialect

'Awpo · November 29, 2010, 10:04:19 AM

Kaltxì ma smukan,

I just had this weird idea, and please tell if you think it's a good idea and if it's even possible.
Wouldn't it be fun, for learning purposes, to create a dialect for the na'vi language with the small linguistics community on this forum?
Because when working on it the more advanced members can learn na'vi through a fun and new way and the newer members will learn the basics of linguistics so that this subforum will flourish in all it's new super advanced conlangs

Please tell me what you think!
Lars

Teyl Maktoyu Ayfìwopxä · November 29, 2010, 02:13:58 PM

Lol, Na'vi itself hardly exists for about a few years, and you want to create a dialect?
Dialects are mostly region-bound, people start changing the sound of a word to make it less easy to understand for others.

wm.annis · November 29, 2010, 05:46:57 PM

Well, while there are a few people who come to learn Na'vi who are themselves conlangers or interested in linguistics, I don't think most are. I have from time to time amused myself by imagining what Na'vi dialects might look like, but I doubt more than a few people would really care.

'Awpo · November 29, 2010, 06:16:36 PM

Ok fair enough

I did say I was only asking for an opinion right? Because it was just an idea that came up

'Oma Tirea · November 29, 2010, 11:49:46 PM

Quote from: Mìhìl on November 29, 2010, 02:13:58 PM
Dialects are mostly region-bound, people start changing the sound of a word to make it less easy to understand for others.

Although in the case of Na'vi, it may just serve as a speech identifier rather than a speech encoding, such as being able to tell what clan fko has come from.

wm.annis · November 30, 2010, 06:04:00 PM

Quote from: 'Awpo on November 29, 2010, 06:16:36 PMI did say I was only asking for an opinion right?

Well, by all means share your ideas. I like seeing other conlangers at work. I'm just not sure it'll be interesting to more than a few.

Txantslusam Nari · September 08, 2011, 03:35:48 AM

I think it would be a great idea to hv Na'vi Dialects. There are many more clans in Pandora than shown in the film, and the Na'vi have lived on Pandora since, god knows? So there is a hig possibility there are dialects.

Oel Ngati Kameie- I see you (familiar) in Omaticaya
Ohe Nati Kame - Pa'li Clan speech ( think about native americans language such as the Lakota)

'Awpo · September 15, 2011, 10:30:14 AM

You are pretty much necro'ing...

Plusquamperfekt · September 15, 2011, 10:48:08 AM

I support the idea of creating dialects of Na'vi for a simple reason. As we did not invent Na'vi, we cannot add vocabulary to the language without asking Paul Frommer first if he allows us to change his conlang. However, when you invent your own con-dialect, you can always claim that your innovations do not have an impact on the original conlang, even though it is based on it.

Kamean · September 15, 2011, 10:50:37 AM

Paul has had the idea to create a dialect based on the Neytiri's pronunciation.

Plumps · September 15, 2011, 11:35:35 AM

Quote from: Kamean on September 15, 2011, 10:50:37 AM
Paul has had the idea to create a dialect based on the Neytiri's pronunciation.

I think there's a common misunderstanding concerning this statement. The question is: do we talk about a Na'vi dialect that pronounces Na'vi words differently in another clan or do we talk about English pronunciation that is affected by the Na'vi sound system? I think what Dr Frommer is referring to in all his interviews concerning Neytiri's pronunciation is her way of speaking English (like the rolled r or a hard (almost ejective) k), is it not?

Kamean · September 15, 2011, 01:53:31 PM

Maybe.

'Oma Tirea · September 16, 2011, 11:44:57 PM

Quote from: Plumps on September 15, 2011, 11:35:35 AM
Quote from: Kamean on September 15, 2011, 10:50:37 AM
Paul has had the idea to create a dialect based on the Neytiri's pronunciation.

I think there's a common misunderstanding concerning this statement. The question is: do we talk about a Na'vi dialect that pronounces Na'vi words differently in another clan or do we talk about English pronunciation that is affected by the Na'vi sound system? I think what Dr Frommer is referring to in all his interviews concerning Neytiri's pronunciation is her way of speaking English (like the rolled r or a hard (almost ejective) k), is it not?

You may be right. Initially it was Carla Meyer's idea to make a Na'vi-sounding English dialect for the movie, not Frommer's. Cameron wanted Zoë/Neytiri to be the one who forms the accent(s). As far as another official Na'vi dialect goes, that may or may not happen.

Vawmataw · January 04, 2013, 10:00:08 AM

Na'vi dialect is not a good idea. We're only hundreds of people speaking Na'vi but just a few well. Also, some fans of Avatar would like to learn Na'vi, and maybe not the dialects. There's one language created in the movie Avatar: Na'vi. Create a dialect would just be for fun, but will be superfluous if it is an official one.

If you want create one, tsakem si ko!

You can speak your dialect for fun. But it will no be the official dialect of Na'vi.

Taronyu Leleioae · January 05, 2013, 12:38:31 PM

Quite the 15 month necropost there...

Although I'm relatively also new to the forum, I'm not a fan of this idea either although I have admittedly joked about a dialect for the "Tribe(s) of the Eastern Sea." Anyone in the US would recognize this from variations of dialects on the east coast let alone areas in New England such as Cape Cod or Downeast Maine. (Or just compare central/northern Germany with Bayern accents...)

A dialect would just distract the purity and development of the language. Plus would be a grand mal headache for the LEP Committee to try manage for submissions. Not to mention that Dr. Frommer himself would have to approve this anyway. Better to focus energies on making sure every word really is researched and properly documented by known example. Then work on opportunities for learners (aynumeyu) to actually use/speak the language fluidly to develop and encourage a broader base of active users with proper/correct pronunciations for others to learn from through immersion/interaction.

Vawmataw · January 05, 2013, 12:41:23 PM

Quote from: Taronyu Leleioae on January 05, 2013, 12:38:31 PM
Quite the 15 month necropost there...

Although I'm relatively also new to the forum, I'm not a fan of this idea either although I have admittedly joked about a dialect for the "Tribe(s) of the Eastern Sea." Anyone in the US would recognize this from variations of dialects on the east coast let alone areas in New England such as Cape Cod or Downeast Maine. (Or just compare central/northern Germany with Bayern accents...)

A dialect would just distract the purity and development of the language. Plus would be a grand mal headache for the LEP Committee to try manage for submissions. Not to mention that Dr. Frommer himself would have to approve this anyway. Better to focus energies on making sure every word really is researched and properly documented by known example. Then work on opportunities for learners (aynumeyu) to actually use/speak the language fluidly to develop and encourage a broader base of active users with proper/correct pronunciations for others to learn from through immersion/interaction.

I agree.