NotW #95 Reykoveyzä te Weru'falä Haflak'ite

[Reykoveyzä te Werufalä Haflak'ite]

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.

Well... I'm 15, female, and oeru syaw fko Reyko, though my sawtute friends know me by a different name

I live in yorkshire, England, and although it rains entirely too much for my liking, its pretty awesome here, and I'm proud of where I live. I live in a stereotypical little English village, all green farms and stone houses that are hundreds of years old. An interesting fact: my house was once a holiday home for overworked Victorian washerwomen from the city. I speak English...and that's it really. I do French and Spanish at school and can speak them at a rudimentary level, and read them. I'm getting better at Na'vi, slowly. My family...it consists mainly of sisters. They're the overwhelming presence, and exactly the same despite the big age gap. It sometimes seems like theres a lot more than two of them .

What I do.... I do LN, HI (Horse Isle – sounds nerdy but theres so much more to it ), and scouts, mainly. Other than that, its school – the most mind-numbing thing mankind ever created. I read an awful of books, get though about seven or eight a week, sometimes more, and I write a lot of stories. I want to get published, one day

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?

I fell in love with the whole universe of Pandora. It was just so beautiful, and so different to what I know. I loved all the characters and the creatures, and the whole concept of tsaheylu and eywa, real tangible connections to a deity and each other. I loved the language, too. All the words that were subtitled, but all the little words the Na'vi said, like Neytiri saying sìltsan, and tam tam, stuff like that which didn't have translations - I was desperate to know what they meant.

I stumbled across this site when I kept humming the word "irayo". I couldn't figure out what it meant or why it was stuck in my head, but something told me it was related to Avatar. I typed irayo into google, seeing if I could find out what it meant, back in about September, and found a post about the word on LN. I was hooked – I couldn't believe that there was a whole language, especially such a beautiful one. I ghosted round the forums, memorised the numbers (and consequently forgot them), printed off Na'vi in a Nutshell and thoroughly confused myself with the linguistic terms. I wrote out all the beginners stuff in a random notebook and got to grips with it. Then I realised I should really get an account, and I registered.
 

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?

First I called myself Svänawn, which was a rubbish name, an avatarisation of my tawtute name. Then I found Uniltìrantokx te Skxawng's name generator – really good, by the way. It came up with a few different names –Veyzä, weru, and falä, all separately, so I mashed them all up with a name I already knew I wanted – Reyko, which I'd made up then realised sounded Na'vi-ish. My profile pic is a random one from the forum standard ones. Its just at a different angle to others, I think. I wish I knew how to change it...

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?

Srane, oe tsun pivlltxe nì'it, slä ohe lu nì'aw numeyu. I don't even think that bits right hrh. In terms of method, I just pick up bits of grammar here and there, and I ask questions and am very grateful when aykaryu answer them! If I see a word I don't know, I look it up and repeat it till I memorise it. I mutter to myself nìNa'vi a lot, as I have no one to actually speak it with. I like to freak out my family by swearing at them in Na'vi and say random stuff to them, as they (oeyä smuke) think its weird. So when it forecast snow, I looked up how to say snow, and then when the first patches of white appeared, scared my sisters by bursting in and yelling "TÌNG NARI! AYHERWÌVA!" at the top of my voice.

My friends think its pretty cool, and spread it round school so all my peers asked me "hey, do you speak avatar?" and I have to sigh and say its Na'vi and then weird them out too. As a result I'm viewed as more of a freak but I taught one of my friends to say hello and I see you and swear and things like that so she can scare her RS teacher.

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

I still have a soft spot for irayo, as I managed to subconsciously learn it and it was what brought me here. I like Eywa, and tsaheylu, and awaiei, and ikran and inikmaya and – yeah, I like them all. I say a lot of things in my day to day vocab, as I practise my pronunciation on my friends/family. And mutter to myself. But I say things like saa, wiya and tsa'hey a lot. And sxawng, and tawtute akawng. It saves on insulting people in English.

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.

Hmmm... I like the easiest way to learn Na'vi ever, and tirea aeans simplistic grammar thing. Its helped me a lot. And I have to say, skytrees rocks too

I think the users themselves have to be included, too. I love the way people on the forums are so positive and supportive of each other. I think we as a whole are what makes learning Na'vi so fun for the individual.

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 haven't made that many contributions as such, apart from my RP, which is more enjoyable to me than anyone else, I think . but I have a thirty-something page fanfic in the works that I might post if I think anyone wanted to read it... I don't know how good it is, which is why I haven't.

Oh, and I have my art thread which I have to update. Urgently.

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've only seen avatar about 10 times, actually, as my sisters don't like it and I have to fight to the death just to be able to put it in the dvd player. They think that too many people die. Its ridiculous. They don't get the point of the film. I mean, they watched rise of the planet of the apes (a film, which if you haven't seen it, is as heavily biased to the chimps as you can get, and about their family ties and love and stuff)  and said it was nothing but a film about 'horrible monkeys'. But anyway. Sawtute fools! Hrh. Despite that, I think I am quite an avatard. I know a lot of the lines off the top of my head. Last time I watched it I could say the lines along with the actors.

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?

I wish I could become a Na'vi, but since I'm stuck as human, I'm going to make the best of it, I think. But still, that doesn't stop me imagining Pandora, and writing stories about it. I'd love to have a Na'vi queue, but my hair refuses to grow any faster than a snail so its still shoulder-length. I try and be green, and I would love to have a tail. That would be awesome. As would living in a tree. And I think, after watching avatar, that an Eywa on earth is entirely feasible. I always thought there was no way something as complicated as our planet came about by accident, but I like the idea of a Nawma Sa'nok more than the Christian god. But whether god is Jesus, Allah or Eywa, I think he/she is there, and he/she loves us. 

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.

To frommer: why isn't there a word for awesome?

To Cameron: please can I be one of the Na'vi in your next film?

To Cameron: do you need any help writing the script for AVTR 2/3?

What else do you do in you free time?

I think I already wrote this... but anyhow, more detail this time. I am a keen scout – its not just for boys, and its not just about knots. I got to go on an amazing experience this summer – the world scout jamboree in Sweden, along with 40,000 others scouts from almost every other country in the world. Unbeknownst to me, a few others from the LN community were there – if only I'd started Na'vi a few months earlier! Anyway, it was 3 of the best weeks of my life. I loved it and I just wish I could go back, despite the fact my unit had to sing on ilkey moor bah'tat a lot and wear flat caps (stereotypical Yorkshire things).

I write a lot, as I already said. I've got two stories on the go at the moment – my avatar fanfic Rak'ta and Rocha (the rare Na'vi twins) and a story about wolves (I love wolves). I read a lot – scifi mainly. I love the pern books, mainly because they're so awesome (DRAGONS!!) and theres so many of them.   

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

I love lions (childhood simba obsession) and wolves and horses and birds of prey. I love mythical animals mainly, dragons and griffins and werewolves. I may have stopped believing in santa a long time ago, but I don't really think I've lost hope about dragons there is no way they'd crop up in every single culture in the world and not be founded a LITTLE bit on fact.

I'm not that scared of any animal, apart from slugs. Its their non-solidness that gets me, I think. Jelly creeps me out too.

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?")

Ninja, I think. For the amazing leaping around buildings thing they do. For superpowers, I want to fly. That's been a dream of mine ever since I can remember.

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.

My ipod – couldn't live without it, its like my pet and my friend and a useful appliance all in one.

My house – hey, its oeyä kelkutral.

If this can be ANYTHING, then I'm going with a top scientist who is both a  surgeon and a biogeneticist. That way he can graft wings onto me, and make a dragon (if you don't get how this can be done, read Dragonsdawn. Seriously, read it ).

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

PANDORAAAAA!!! Or pern. I would be Searched before you can say "faranth's egg" – sorry, nerdy inside-dragonrider joke.

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

I would wish I could become a Na'vi on a Pandora totally free from sawtute.

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

Why are you such a fantasist?
And... lets face it, this world (or what humans have made it into) sucks. And the imagination can create such beautiful places...

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.

I am the youngest Queens Scout to ever get the award.

I have a giant, evil fish which eats other tropical fishes poo and is called Vawm.

I have almost finished sewing one of OC's ikrans.

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.

Hmmm...the whole "do you speak avatar?" and me answering "srane, ma skxawng," entirely by accident thing.

If you were to expand the Avatar story or framework in any way, what would you suggest?  In other words, is there anything missing from the original Avatar which you would have liked to have seen included, and which might be worked into Avatar 2? 

Spoiler

Asked by the previous NotW.

Excellent question, ma seze (and while im on the subject, irayo for choosing me!)

I wanted to see more about the culture, and learn more about both other members of the omaticaya clan, and other clans. When I watch avatar, I pay a lot of attention to the background Na'vi characters, what they do and wear and look like, and I think – 'every one of those characters has a backstory and a personality and a LIFE' and then I am consumed with a desire to watch several hundred more films, each about an individual Na'vi. And then the film (film, not films  ) ends and I am crushed.

And I want to learn more about the way of life, like is mentioned in ASG. The way they weave, and sing, and sleep and hunt.

And in the film itself, I wished the campfire scene (where Jake treads on tails/ gets a loincloth wedgie) was longer.

[Seze Mune]

Seykxel sì nitram, ma oeyä Reyko!  Oe pìlmey ngeyä tìpähem fpomhu!

Why are you trying to be green?  I hear it's not easy...   

I enjoyed the Pern books as well, and have wondered why so many cultures refer to dragon-like creatures.  There's got to be something behind that coincidence.

I too wish the Na'vi culture would be expanded.  I was just reading about the sami people in Scandinavia, and I'd love to find out what it's like and how it's different from how I live.  Could there be a sami-like culture on Pandora somewhere?

I am guessing Tsleng/Ngay/Ngay

[Reykoveyzä te Werufalä Haflak'ite]

Why are you trying to be green?  I hear it's not easy...   

Hrh 

I enjoyed the Pern books as well, and have wondered why so many cultures refer to dragon-like creatures.  There's got to be something behind that coincidence.

maybe its a worldwide conspiricy by....someone...to hide the existance of dragons.  maybe its the dragons themselves - hiding their existence.

I too wish the Na'vi culture would be expanded.  I was just reading about the sami people in Scandinavia, and I'd love to find out what it's like and how it's different from how I live.  Could there be a sami-like culture on Pandora somewhere?

why, what is the sami culture like?

[Key'ìl Nekxetse]

Seykxel sì nitram!
I'd just like to say this:
    "I would love to have a tail" - I agree! I think many people would...

[Seze Mune]

A General Introduction to the Sami people

From the Sami we get the word tundra.

They have beautiful traditional clothing, unlike the Na'vi.  However, if they tried to dress like the Na'vi they would have died out long ago.



I believe the dragons are hiding their existence.  They, like Bigfoot, will be found only if/when they are ready!

I would rather have wings than a tail.  However, when you think about it, everything with wings DOES have a tail or an elongated body (like a butterfly), kefyak?

[Reykoveyzä te Werufalä Haflak'ite]

I'd rather have wings as well, though a tail would be a good substitute if I couldn't

And keyfak - is that a version of srak?

[Key'ìl Nekxetse]

The dictionary gives this:
    "Kefyak - Isn't it? Right?"
I expect kefyak is a mixture of ke "not" and srak "yes?". Someone can probably explain better than me...

[Seze Mune]

Great guess! 

[Human No More]

Congratulations

Good to see another fan nearby(ish) , and oel ngati kameie... skypeople, ayskxawng

As for a tail, yeah, I want one so much

Ng/Ng/Ts

[Meuiama Tsamsiyu (Toruk Makto)]

I am not a God freak either, not a fan of organized religion so I agree that Eywa rocks. 

You keep believing in Dragons and Txonä Unil Stä'nìyu Rolyusì will be your best friend.

I have heard of and want to read the Dragons of Pern series.

Atsleng, ngay, ngay.

I completely agree about the culture. I think all the deleted scenes are great now to see and aside from the hunt scene mixed with the War music... I think all of that should not have been cut. Even the entire purpose of the title. Uniltirantokx. The dream walk... cut. No, I love the culture and wish to know more.

[Meuiama Tsamsiyu (Toruk Makto)]

I too would love wings first as I am (was) a HUGE Disney Gargoyles fan... but I agree with Seze in that the tail is the flight rudder and quite necessary for flight and balance.

Congratulations on being nominated by my friend Seze here. You are quite knowledgeable and have great grammar for someone of your age.

[Niri Te]

Congratulations on your being NotW.  I also think that the deleted scenes should have been included in the movie, INCLUDING the hunt scene. These people are HUNTERS, and WARRIORS, and that scene shows the mindset of them as a people. One MORE reason for me to HATE IMAX.  I think the two best scenes in the movie were the hunt scene, and the night before the battle scene with it's FANTASTIC music.  Unfortunately, neither one made the final cut.
Niri Te

[Reykoveyzä te Werufalä Haflak'ite]

You have great grammar for someone of your age.

I have to say, that's the first time be ever gotten that compliment 

[Ateyo Te Syaksyuk]

Ma Reyko!
  Seyhal sì nìtram!  We met briefly once, when I mentioned that I intend to start airbrushing.
(that is still "in the works" but I willbe airbrushing soon)
TRUE!  I believe that your enthusiasm for scouting would propel you up the ranks!
TRUE!  I believe that you have a payoang apxa named VAWM
          But is is NOT KWAWM , it is 'Ohawk  !!!  It cannot be helped that you provided such expensive   tropical cuisine!
FALSE!  I don't know what OC means, but you wll NEVER finish sewing everyone's toy ikrans!
          (BWAAHAHAHAHA)

Yes I too want a kxetse sì tswin and to fly an ikran.

[Reykoveyzä te Werufalä Haflak'ite]

Srane, I remember we met, ma ateyo, and I like your fanfic it's nice to read

TRUE!  I believe that you have a payoang apxa named VAWM
          But is is NOT KWAWM , it is 'Ohawk  !!!  It cannot be helped that you provided such expensive   tropical cuisine!

What do you mean by kwawm and 'ohawk? I haven't come across those words before 

[Meuiama Tsamsiyu (Toruk Makto)]

Well I meant it. I am also interested in reading your fic if you do decide to post it.

Niri. I did not mean to ultimately leave it off... just that the War music did not fit to the scene. IT was movie movie movie WAR MUSIC AND HUNT.... and cut to movie movie movie

[Niri Te]

 OK. got it, thanks for the clarification.
Niri Te

[Meuiama Tsamsiyu (Toruk Makto)]

Yes, all the scenes. Every single one from the script, should be finished and added chronologically. The whole story is important, even if the studio and theaters think it is redundancy or already told too much. The script was amazing.

[Irtaviš Ačankif]

To frommer: why isn't there a word for awesome?

txantsan or kosman could work

[Alyara Arati]

Wow!  The week has just flown by.  I hope you enjoyed it, and belated congratulations!

I love the Pern books, too.  It's so sad to me that Anne McCaffrey died recently.  And I know that dragons exist and keep this a secret, because I have been one (okay, that was a dream, but still...)

For the 3 statements, I'm guessing T/T/T, because one doesn't have to be false.

Oh, and by the way, if you want to change your pic to something unique, you can take a screen shot or other image and shrink it down to 100x100 pixels, like I did with this one: