NotW #80: Eltu lefngap 'eveng

[akiwiguy]

Who are you?

Spoiler

Tell us about yourself! Where are you coming from, what languages do you speak, what do you do, how old are you, tell us a few words about your family, work etc. This is the job interview part.

Kaltxì ma oeyä ayeylan ulte oel ayngati kameie
I'm Zarek Jenkinson, known on the interwebs as akiwiguy and known here as Eltu lefngap 'eveng.
I'm 15, and I come from Auckland, New Zealand. I'm currently at high school, and I hate it with a passion.
I have no idea what else to say...

Why are you here?

Spoiler

What brought you here to the Learn Na'vi forum in the first place? Did you fall in love with the language? With Pandora? With a character? Did someone invite you? Or did you stumble upon this site? Once here, why did you decide to stay? How much time do you spend here every day?

Avatar touched me emotionally in a way I can't describe. Everything about it just 'clicked' for me.
And then I decided to learn the language. I started off with the information available on the Wikipedia page, practicing saying some quotes, working on pronunciation with the IPA. Later on, I googled around for some more info. This site came up near the top, so I signed up, and I've been here practically every day since.

Where do your alias and profile pic come from?

Spoiler

Do they have a special significance? Is you alias a translation of your real name, or just a bunch of random letters thrown together? Is that you on your profile pic?

Eltu lefngap 'eveng was made when I saw the word for computer in the dictionary. I then decided that I wanted to make my name have something to do with computers, and then it was born. My profile pic is a picture I drew a while ago now.

Srak nga tsun nìna'vi pivlltxe?

Spoiler

How well? Why did you start to learn it? What is your ultimate goal with the language? Do you have specific methods/tools you use in learning the language? How did your friends, family, or colleagues react to your interest in learning Na'vi? Have you told them at all? Have you converted any of them?

Sran, oe plltxe nìNa'vi, slä oeyä Na'vi ke lu sìltsan.
I started to learn Na'vi in December 2009 from the Wikipedia page, then sort of gave up for a few months, and then found this place. My family was like "what the hell?" and everyone at school teased me about it, even resulting in some physical bullying, like being punched in the face. I moved schools, though, and now everyone is supportive. However, none of them really have any interest in learning the language.

What's you favorite Na'vi word? Did you incorporate it (or others) into your everyday vocab?

My favourite word would be either atokirina' or kam[ei]e. I use oel ngati kameie, kaltxì and kìyevame all the time, and regularly answer questions with both sran and kehe without thinking about it.

In your opinion, what are the top three user-created content on the LN website?

Spoiler

Anything from the main site, the wiki, or the forum including language docs, threads, quotes, literary works, images, etc.

The dictionary, firstly. We'd all be pretty much screwed without it
Next, the first Easy Way to Learn Na'vi guide. It's awesome, and certainly helped me along.
Project NgayNume is epic, too. Tirea Aean is a genius for creating it, and even though it's not really running anymore, I still think it's epic.

Have you made any contributions to the LN community that you're particularly proud of?

Spoiler

What made you make those? Do you plan on contributing (again) in the future? How?

I did donate a few dollars though, does that count?
I am the Project NgayNume +12 KS, though. But I have no students

What is it that you liked/hated the most about Avatar ?

Spoiler

How many times have you seen it? How big of an Avatard are you? Prove it!

I didn't hate any of it at all, when I first saw it.
Now all I really don't like is the shocking pronunciation of Na'vi in the movie

Has Avatar  changed your life in any way?

Spoiler

Are you trying to become a Na'vi? How and to what extent? Do you live on a tree? Do you wear your hair in a long braid? Or are you just simply blue? Do you bond with animals? Is Gaia on your contact list? Did you have your photo 'shopped?

Well, uh, that's a silly question to ask, of course it has
Since I saw Avatar, I've been involved in the school environmental group, I like being outside and in the bush more, and I love climbing trees
I'm also growing my hair out, hoping to get it long enough to braid

If you could ask Frommer or Cameron three movie or language related questions what would they be?

Spoiler

You can make requests specific words/expressions too.

Both: Can I have a hug?
Cameron: Did you think you'd gain a huge fanbase like Avatar has now?
Frommer: Do you think Na'vi could overtake Klingon or Elvish in terms of number of 'fluent' speakers?

What else do you do in you free time?

IRC. A lot. Maybe even more than Mikko.
I do web design, write Windows software, watch My Little Pony, draw, sing, and write.

Name your top three favorite Earth animals from most favorite to least. Why those? What's the animal you're most terrified of?

1) Cats. They're just awesome.
2) Spiders. Because they're so cuuuuuuuute!
3) Birds. Because they can just fly around without giving a crap. Oh wait...

Most terrified of?
My sisters. They count as animals.
Probably extremely large monsters hiding in my closet -____________________________________-

Pirate, ninja, zombie, or robot?

Spoiler

Something else? Maybe a combo? Exactly what subtype? Why? (For those of you not so versed in trash tropes, this question basically amounts to asking "What superpowers would you like to have?")

A robot ninja.
Stealth, agility, and internet access.

What three items would you take to a desert island and why?

Spoiler

Anything from books, movies, games, instruments, music, sporting equipment, etc. You'd be provided with means to fully utilize the chosen items – electricity, MP3 player, etc. –, but you couldn't use them for anything else. Escape is not possible.

Computer with internet access. Because I need XKCD, deviantART and IRC.
A fridge stocked with chocolate, apples and energy drinks.
Hugely overkill stereo system with a 200-disc CD changer, filled with CDs of good music.

If you could travel to anywhere in space and time (including fictional universes), where would you go and why?

Do I even need to answer this question?
Pandora.

If you were granted one single wish what would it be?

To become a Na'vi on Pandora.

What is a question you'd ask yourself? How would you answer it?

Shouldn't you be getting your NaNo done?

Shut up, I'm on IRC.

True or false?

Spoiler

Write three statements about yourself, the more extravagant the better. At least one of them must be true. At the end of the week, you'll have to tell which ones were truthful and which made up.

1) I have driven a car before.
2) Horrible music stops me from thinking straight.
3) I have a tendency to throw chairs at people who piss me off.

What is the funniest, weirdest, or most embarrassing Na'vi or Avatar  related thing that has happened to you?

Spoiler

Something along the lines of a MLIA short.

At least once a week, I get asked "Do you speak Avatar?"
I respond "Kehe, slä oe plltxe nìNa'vi."

If you had a choice between going to Pandora to live with the Na'vi in your human body with and exopack, or live on Earth in an Avatar body (present day, no breathing apparatus necessary) which would you choose?

Spoiler

Asked by the previous NotW.

Oh wow, that's an interesting question.
I would have to say I would rather be on Pandora as a human.
I don't want to live on this planet anymore.

Oel ayngati kameie ma oeyä ayeylan

Also, thanks to Sarah for selecting me as NotW! *hugs*

[Swoka Ikran]

Seykxel sì nitram, ma Eltu lefngap 'eveng

True or false?

1) I have driven a car before.
2) Horrible music stops me from thinking straight.
3) I have a tendency to throw chairs at people who piss me off.

I'll guess Ng/Ng/Ts.

What else do you do in you free time?

I do web design, write Windows software

Same here (although my work is more like web programming since I mainly do work in PHP and SQL). My knowledge on the some of the newer stuff is a bit lacking though Up until late last year, I was still working with HTML 4.0 Transitional, and many of my web programs still have table-based interfaces with deprecated attributes and <FONT> tags laying around...

What three items would you take to a desert island and why?

Hugely overkill stereo system with a 200-disc CD changer, filled with CDs of good music.

Out of curiosity...what type of music? (I'll bet that it's not what I listen to.)

[akiwiguy]

Same here (although my work is more like web programming since I mainly do work in PHP and SQL). My knowledge on the some of the newer stuff is a bit lacking though Up until late last year, I was still working with HTML 4.0 Transitional, and many of my web programs still have table-based interfaces with deprecated attributes and <FONT> tags laying around...

Oh wow...
I used to do a lot of PHP stuff, but the admin of the VPS akiwiguy.net is hosted on hates PHP and won't let me install it... I need to learn Python.

Out of curiosity...what type of music? (I'll bet that it's not what I listen to.)

Dubstep, trance, Jonathan Coulton, Adele, MLP remixes...

[Human No More]

Congratulations!

Ts/Ng/Ng (I used to do the third when I was maybe a bit younger than you )

[Swoka Ikran]

Same here (although my work is more like web programming since I mainly do work in PHP and SQL). My knowledge on the some of the newer stuff is a bit lacking though Up until late last year, I was still working with HTML 4.0 Transitional, and many of my web programs still have table-based interfaces with deprecated attributes and <FONT> tags laying around...

Oh wow...

I've been working on learning the newer stuff. I still used 4.0 Trans only because I was good at it. I started learning HTML back when I was 9 (2001). IE5 on Win98 was considered current.

My recent programs do use DIVs with CSS-based layouts because their interfaces often get based on freebie website templates. The only HTML 4.0 Trans app I still have online is my sigbar tool. In the next version (which will be for public consumption) I'm replacing a lot of deprecated stuff with CSS, although the table-based layout will stay.

I used to do a lot of PHP stuff, but the admin of the VPS akiwiguy.net is hosted on hates PHP and won't let me install it... I need to learn Python.

That sucks. PHP can carry security and resource consumption issues with it, but I'd think that a VPS would eliminate most of that. If you need a PHP host, I use this company. Great feature set and support and you can't beat the price, but the uptime could be better.

Congrats again on NoTW

[Txonä Unil Stä'nìyu Rolyusì]

Why are you here?

Spoiler

What brought you here to the Learn Na'vi forum in the first place? Did you fall in love with the language? With Pandora? With a character? Did someone invite you? Or did you stumble upon this site? Once here, why did you decide to stay? How much time do you spend here every day?

Avatar touched me emotionally in a way I can't describe. Everything about it just 'clicked' for me.

Oeri 'u ateng ma tsmukan

Srak nga tsun nìna'vi pivlltxe?

Spoiler

How well? Why did you start to learn it? What is your ultimate goal with the language? Do you have specific methods/tools you use in learning the language? How did your friends, family, or colleagues react to your interest in learning Na'vi? Have you told them at all? Have you converted any of them?

Sran, oe plltxe nìNa'vi, slä oeyä Na'vi ke lu sìltsan.
I started to learn Na'vi in December 2009 from the Wikipedia page, then sort of gave up for a few months, and then found this place. My family was like "what the hell?" and everyone at school teased me about it, even resulting in some physical bullying, like being punched in the face. I moved schools, though, and now everyone is supportive. However, none of them really have any interest in learning the language.

WTF really?!?! Holy cheese someone went so far as to actually hit you because of a hobby you have? That is just sick. I can't even...I.......wow. Absolutely disgusting.

I'm glad people at your new school are supportive and I hope you never have to go through that ^^ kind of harrassment ever again.

What's you favorite Na'vi word? Did you incorporate it (or others) into your everyday vocab?

My favourite word would be either atokirina' or kam[ei]e. I use oel ngati kameie, kaltxì and kìyevame all the time, and regularly answer questions with both sran and kehe without thinking about it.

Ahaha I answer questions like that too sometimes 

Has Avatar  changed your life in any way?

Spoiler

Are you trying to become a Na'vi? How and to what extent? Do you live on a tree? Do you wear your hair in a long braid? Or are you just simply blue? Do you bond with animals? Is Gaia on your contact list? Did you have your photo 'shopped?

Well, uh, that's a silly question to ask, of course it has
Since I saw Avatar, I've been involved in the school environmental group, I like being outside and in the bush more, and I love climbing trees
I'm also growing my hair out, hoping to get it long enough to braid

Ftìpawmìri oena nga lam nìwotx hrh!

True or false?

Spoiler

Write three statements about yourself, the more extravagant the better. At least one of them must be true. At the end of the week, you'll have to tell which ones were truthful and which made up.

1) I have driven a car before.
2) Horrible music stops me from thinking straight.
3) I have a tendency to throw chairs at people who piss me off.

1) Hmm, well I know you said you're only 15, but I also know that in the US you only have to be 15.5 to get a learner's permit to drive with your parents. Imma say true.

2) It usually does to me so Imma say true as well

3) False...I hope lol

What is the funniest, weirdest, or most embarrassing Na'vi or Avatar  related thing that has happened to you?

Spoiler

Something along the lines of a MLIA short.

At least once a week, I get asked "Do you speak Avatar?"
I respond "Kehe, slä oe plltxe nìNa'vi."

BAHAHAHAHA!!!!! I get this too! I always have to clarify that the movie is called Avatar, the language is called Na'vi. Faysawtute HRH!!!

If you had a choice between going to Pandora to live with the Na'vi in your human body with and exopack, or live on Earth in an Avatar body (present day, no breathing apparatus necessary) which would you choose?

Spoiler

Asked by the previous NotW.

Oh wow, that's an interesting question.
I would have to say I would rather be on Pandora as a human.
I don't want to live on this planet anymore.

I think I'mma have to agree with you on this one.

Ngeyä kintrr sivunu ngaru ma tsmukan ulte seykxel sì nitram!

-Txonä Rolyu

[Tsmuktengan]

Congratulations! Have a great weak! 

I used to program in PHP last summer (at least I learned for the company taking me for three months before I start school again). This is a really powerful and interesting language, although is less strict than C, allowing to program in absurd ways if you're not used to it (I wa snot used to it and apparently, I got things quite wrong easily).

HTML5 Technologies are really great, you should have a look at these.

If you are a bit used to make up only simple sites with PHP, you can do bigger and more modular sites with the [urlhttp://symfony.com/]Symfony[/url] Framework using PHP (the equivalent using Python is Django). I usually encourage them as they are powerful and clean. They are a good way to make money as well because, when you know how to develop using these frameworks, you make big sites faster and still very secure. These two frameworks are massively used in the web. 

Just a small tip...

WTF really?!?! Holy cheese someone went so far as to actually hit you because of a hobby you have? That is just sick. I can't even...I.......wow. Absolutely disgusting.

There are this kind of people everywhere, trust me. I faced this as well when I was younger, but this time for almost no reason, so...

Anyway, let me guess. Hmm...

1) Ngay : With one adult, in the countryside, you may have already got a try.
2) Ngay : That's understandable...
3) Tsleng : Chairs are not easy to throw and don't really fly straight.

[mikkowilson]

Congrats! Funny post Kiwi.

False/True/True.

/ Mikko

[archaic]

Congrats ma Zarek.

Hmm, high school, good luck with that, I know it's important, and all that, but it doesn't stop it being sucky.
Hang in there, it does end. Eventually. I promise!!!


OK, so my T/F guesses .....
1. False, honest officer. 
2. True, I find it distracting, and can stop me from thinking straight, sometimes.
3. False, because spears are much more authentically Na'vi.

[Ekirä]

Congrats, Kiwi! Keep working on that NaNo, IRC will always be there but November is ending soon.

I'll guess True, True, False.

Enjoy the rest of your week!

[AketuanNavi]

Congratulations!

T/F/T

Shouldn't you be getting your NaNo done?

Shut up, I'm on IRC.

[akiwiguy]

Well, it's time to lock up here.
I probably could leave it till tomorrow because it'll still be during the day (or night, but it'll still be before midnight) in the US tomorrow morning my time, but it won't feel right locking a NotW thread on Monday.

Anyway, the answers to the questions:
1) False.
2) True. It is _REALLY_ annoying when my sisters are playing Miley Cyrus or Justin Bieber or some other random crap. At least now I have Audiosurf I can just drown them out and have fun at the same time
3) True. Not so much now as I used to, but I still do it if someone really pisses me off. Chairs actually aren't that hard to throw if you know how ^_^

Well, it was a fun week, and I really enjoyed it.
Now, over to the next!

--Zarek