NotW #98: Ningey

[Ningey]

O.k., to get the cycle going again, here we go (irayo nìtxan, ma 'Oma Tirea):

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 Ningey (to be more precise: A 39-year-old from Northern Germany).
I'm fond of languages, and aside of my native language (guess what: German ) I speak English fluently and French with some severe difficulties – in fact, if you got a foreign language ruined at school, somehow you need to get the mess out of it and reset it to normal. Also add Latin to the list (I would have to brush up on that as well) and Na'vi (that's the reason why I'm here in the first place), and I'm planning to also add Czech to the list.
As a bonus, if there's someone from the Northern parts of Germany, I'm also able to talk to you on Plattdeutsch: Ick bün all hier!

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?

Actually, the movie got me hooked, and the first time I've watched it, I noticed that there's more to the language of the Na'vi than just gibberish – I was able to discern several patterns although I absolutely didn't know anything about it that early.
Add the fact that I'm fond of languages, anyway, the next logical step had been to find out more about it, which inevitably brought me to an Avatar wiki. However, that turned out to be unsatisfactory since I might have gotten a glimpse at the vocabulary, but that didn't deal with the grammar and other relevant things. By coincidence, Tsu'tey eventually pointed me at this site (after he read one of my fanfics on another site) and asked me if I wanted to publish it here as well – which instantaneously made me curious, so I took a look at the main page.
At first I tried it with the downloadable material, but with only marginal success, which in turn caused me to register here. And this is exactly where the story of a success in this language started.

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?

This one is easily answered. The nick came from a name generator I have implemented (an early version, though, that has been replaced by something new, although still in development).
In fact, I had been in need of a name for Jake's and Neytiri's 'itan in my Avatar fanfics, and this is the one I have picked from the list – however, this relation doesn't imply anything concerning my person.
As far as my forum avatar is concerned, I think it fits my current situation best: Right now I feel somewhat like a skxawng who is to be taught another language, but initially has some severe problems in doing so (although things have improved quite a deal by 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?

Srane, ma oeyä eylan! Oe tsun pivlltxe lì'fya leNa'vi ... slä oeru lu mi 'a'awa sìngäzìk...
Actually, it is my desire to become as fluent in Na'vi as I am in German and English (and thereby use it to pull my French to the same level).
Hopefully so far this works out as desired, although I still need much more practice with it, but I'm confident that this is going to happen some day. I have already noticed that my Na'vi starts to detach from German so I don't have to switch between the two languages that often any more in order to say something nìNa'vi.
However, not too many people know about this pastime of mine. Occasionally I've mentioned it at work (though they usually remain indifferent to the topic), but it already got me a negative reaction. I guess some of you already know the story: "Why don't you just learn a real language?", and no matter what you try to tell them, they just won't listen and dismiss this as folly (although I keep telling him "Better a so-called useless pastime than none at all!" ).
In fact, I'm wondering how such people would define a "real" language, anyway...

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

kame – That's exactly what everybody should do: Not just see with one's eyes, but also with one's heart. Since every person is different from everybody else, it is of paramount importance that everybody is accepted as is. I believe that this way many problems could not only be averted, but more often avoided altogether, which would mean less problems everybody had to deal with. Plus everybody would finally notice what madness they are caught in.

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.

1. The dictionaries (thanks to Taronyu, Tirea Aean and all the others who contribute – including Plumps, xelloss and others for doing the translations) – that also includes the online dictionaries dict-navi.com and oe.skxawng.lu
2. Fuk lì'fyateri leNa'vi
3. The science board

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 have a name generator under construction (it can be found at http://www.robidu.de/cgi-bin/learnnavi/namegen.pl), but it still requires more work to do.
Furthermore, I have completed translating William S. Annis's Horen Lì'fyayä leNa'vi, but some technical terms gave me quite a headache – heck, I wish I were a linguist!
I'm also working on translating things to French for dict-navi.org (any help from someone from France would be greatly appreciated, especially as far as proofreading is concerned ).
So far nothing else has been planned or scheduled, but it's likely that I'll initiate other projects in the future.

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 seen it more often than I cared to count (but only once in cinema, however, that has been the extended version in 3D, the rest has been either the DVD or the Blu-ray). What has been particularly awesome is the scenery as far as the Pandoran wilderness is concerned. Compared to the bleak human settlement (although being functional, there has been virtually no color in it – a cold and dismal place), the two make for a great contrast.
The one thing that greatly annoyed me about this is that there are too many scenes that have been left out of the movie (even in the Collector's Extended Cut) so I hope that someday there is going to be a Director's Cut including the still missing scenes – heck, those would have given the Na'vi even more depth, plus they would make the whole thing self-explanatory!
Add the fact that I think that the German translation has been somewhat messed up – I know both the English original and the German version, and to be honest, I prefer the English version.

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?

It caused my awareness as far as environmental issues are concerned to be increased even further, and it finally convinced me that humankind is plain stupid (although hopefully there are still humans who don't fit this description). Cameron may have played with several tropes in his movie, but what actually frightens me is that he has hit the mark with it...
However, since the fish rots from the head down, one would have to start changing things at the top.

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.

Cameron: Could it be that in the future humans return to Pandora (option for a sequel: Invite some Na'vi to visit 'Rrta, for whatever reason that may be – the most likely reason could be averting certain doom for humankind)?
Frommer: Would you be willing to teach Na'vi at school?
Cameron: Could the reason for all Na'vi speaking the same language be that their language is, in fact, lì'fya Eywayä?

What else do you do in you free time?

I like reading very much (right now, it's not books, but fanfics – Avatar and some fantasy stories: Forgotten Realms, LotR and others), plus I'm also doing Pen & Paper RPG (chiefly D&D 3.5, but also GURPS).
Furthermore, I like computer programming (C, C++, assembler, and since recently Perl, too, but I'm also on the lookout for some rather obscure programming languages), although some programming languages that have once been quite widespread seem to have disappeared (esp. Pascal).
And don't forget my fanfictions. Although they aren't published in English so far, there are several of them in progress, but I'm more or less stuck right now. My absolute favorite now is "Ticket to Hell", an Alternate Universe story that takes Tsu'tey and a number of other Na'vi to Earth. However, I'm also participating in a challenge about writing 120 one-shots to particular keywords – also based on the Avatar universe.
However, I could translate those stories to English in the future...

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

1. Wolf
There's more to this fellow than human prejudice would indicate – and if humans are too stupid to sufficiently shield themselves and their belongings from wolves, they don't deserve any better!
2. Any type of feline
Beauty squared...
3. Dolphin
Intelligent beings of the oceans – sometimes I wonder what they think about humanity...

There isn't such an animal that would give me the creeps right away, so there's no reason to be scared. However, that doesn't prevent me from being wary as far as some are concerned...

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?")

Txoa livu...? Oe ke tsun tslivam fìtìpawm.
If there's a superpower to be had, there's only one I would be willing to take: The ability to absorb damage taken by others (be it other humans, animals, or whatever)...

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.

1. My ham radio gear
2. My computer
3. My soldering equipment and a sufficient amount of electric and electronic components
Although escape might not be possible, no such restrictions on communications apply. However, since this postulated island is desert, there's no way for ordinary means of communications to work (ever seen anyone assembling a mobile phone mast for merely one person using it? ) - but fortunately HF cannot be shielded that easily...
The only problem could be sending any QSL cards, though...

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

There are in fact two worlds, with an equal chance that I would want to visit them:
1. Pandora
First to find out what the Na'vi would say to what's going on here on 'Rrta – two possible reactions that seem plausible to me: a) They laugh their heads off about human stupidity or b) they become furious about what's going on here.
Furthermore, I would wish to learn from the blue folk.
2. Abeir-Toril (a world from the Forgotten Realms fantasy setting)
I would be interested in meeting those rare dark elves who haven't turned evil in the wake of the Crown Wars.

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

To immediately end all kinds of injustice, on all levels.

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

When I have a look around me and see that many narrow-minded people I'm wondering: "Is this it? Isn't there anything more in all this?"
Unfortunately, the answer almost always is "yes".
In fact, some people are so stupid that I would have to become outright Anvilicious to make them notice even the slightest bit – but instead of just letting the anvil drop, I'd rather slam it on their heads (in the figurative sense, that is)...
Thank Eywa that the folks here are open-minded.

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. My mind works like a hybrid of a database and a tape recorder.
2. I have participated in some experiments with nuclear particles while I have been enrolled in school.
3. When talking in English, I know perfectly what I'm saying or what someone else tells me (except for unknown words) – but when I attempt to translate I cannot do that instantaneously.

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.

Nothing so far.

If you are a bisexual/homosexual man and got to have a date with Jake alternatively a bisexual/ heterosexual man and got to have a date with Neytiri, what would you like to do on that date? You can only pick one of them.

Spoiler

Asked by the previous NotW.

I would find us a nice place outside any kelutral for nighttime from which we have a good view on Polyphemus and its other moons and enjoy the vista (both the nighttime bioluminescence and the planet and its other moons). Plus it would be a good time to get to know Neytiri better.
There's absolutely no need to jump the gun on this...

EDIT: Needed to do some minor corrections

EDIT2: Inserted the bonus question

[Meuiama Tsamsiyu (Toruk Makto)]

True, False, True

And congratulations on being promoted into the NotW group.

You sound like a bit of a busy person with the electronics, writing and reading. Good job, ma 'eylan.

Eywa ngahu.

[Eana Unil]

Txantsan, congratulations, ma Ningey

My guess: true, false, true.

[Blue Elf]

Ma Ningey, seykxel sì nitram nìngay

... and I'm planning to also add Czech to the list.

Nice! If you need some help regarding Czech, just say I'm afraid I can't say too much about theory as I left school many years ago, but if you wait some time, I learn it again with my children, when they go through this area in the school

Ts/Ng säplltxeri 'en si oe:

1. My mind works like a hybrid of a database and a tape recorder.

Ngay. My head often works like WOM (write only memory) - but nothing get lost!

2. I have participated in some experiments with nuclear particles while I have been enrolled in school.

Tsleng. interesting, but not probable

3. When talking in English, I know perfectly what I'm saying or what someone else tells me (except for unknown words) – but when I attempt to translate I cannot do that instantaneously.

Ngay. The same sometimes occurs to me - I perfectly understand what we speak about, but can't translate into Czech

Tse - ngaru livu lefpoma kintrr anitram!

[Ningey]

Irayo, ma smuktu.

Ma Blue Elf, once I got started with Czech, I would gladly take you up on your offer. However, I need to find out where the learning software I got for Czech and the dictionary have vanished to...

[Eana Tanhì]

Congrats ma Ningey
My guess is T/F/T

[Toruk Makto]

False, True, True.

Ham, huh?  W5MEM here. 

Markì

[wm.annis]

Ralpengyuru seykxel sì nitram!

F/T/T.

[Seze Mune]

Nìtram lu oeru, ngati ultxarun..

My guesses: You wish/true/true   

[Blue Elf]

Nìtram lu oeru, ngati ultxarun..

My guesses: You wish/true/true   

with pleasure
Furia ultxarun ngati oe 'efu nitram

[Alyara Arati]

Seykxel sì nìtram.

F/F/T

You could always make up a bonus question for yourself; I'm sure we'd all love to see it.

[Ningey]

I think I'm going to take exactly that option when I haven't received the bonus question by Friday evening (16:00 UTC, that is).

@Toruk Makto: Here it's DL3OLA (although I still need to get my home QTH on the air... )

[Ningey]

O.k., the bonus question has been provided and answered. You can find it in the initial post.

[Seze Mune]

Nìtram lu oeru, ngati ultxarun..

My guesses: You wish/true/true   

with pleasure
Furia ultxarun ngati oe 'efu nitram

I need to work on my fwa, futa, furia comprehensions. Irayo, ma Blue Elf!   

[Human No More]

Congratulations

Ng (doesn't everyone's? It doesn't necessarily have to have perfect referential integrity )
Ng (did that myself too )
Ng

[Tanri]

Seykxel sì nitram ma Ningey!

In fact, some people are so stupid that I would have to become outright Anvilicious to make them notice even the slightest bit – but instead of just letting the anvil drop, I'd rather slam it on their heads (in the figurative sense, that is)...

HRH! I found this method unsatisfactory, because in the case of typical tawtute, the force required to change his mind exceeds the level he is able to survive.

Pxesäplltxeri ngeyä 'en sìyi oe: Ngay, Ngay, Ngay.

[Ningey]

Seykxel sì nitram ma Ningey!

In fact, some people are so stupid that I would have to become outright Anvilicious to make them notice even the slightest bit – but instead of just letting the anvil drop, I'd rather slam it on their heads (in the figurative sense, that is)...

HRH! I found this method unsatisfactory, because in the case of typical tawtute, the force required to change his mind exceeds the level he is able to survive.

Nìngay, ma 'eylan.
However, one should never give up hope.

[Txonä Unil Stä'nìyu Rolyusì]

Ta mipa vewngyu tsengeyä seykxel sì nitram ma Ningey

-Txonä Rolyu

[Ningey]

Irayo nìtxan, ma eylan!

So, here's the solution to the three statements I have given: They are, in fact, true, all three of them.

1. My mind works like a hybrid of a database and a tape recorder.

It does, indeed, picking up virtually anything I come across. However, this is a curse more often than it is beneficial (otherwise I would have called my mind eidetic) since it tends to pick up those things I do NOT want - and if I concentrate on any one thing, there's a high potential that anything else that catches my attention (by scoring a hit against the information I have acquired) breaks my concentration.

2. I have participated in some experiments with nuclear particles while I have been enrolled in school.

I have, indeed. When I have been fifteen years old, we had practical courses at school which I have taken at the DESY (Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron) in Hamburg. On some occasions I have even been permitted to operate the controls.

3. When talking in English, I know perfectly what I'm saying or what someone else tells me (except for unknown words) – but when I attempt to translate I cannot do that instantaneously.

Just talk with me and then unexpectedly request that I translate that - you will find me dumbfounded for some moments before I can get the two languages in question sufficiently aligned.

And now, its the turn of...