Supermarket teaches staff Na'vi

[Payoang]

Wow. Who's behind this amazing idea?

http://www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/news/794866/Asda-people-learn-to-speak-Na-vi-Supermarket-managers-are-training-their-staff-to-speak-the-Avatar-language.html
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/breaking-news/staff-speak-navi-as-asda-supermarket-gets-pandora-makeover-for-avatar-dvd-launch/story-e6frf7jx-1225858181297

[Nanaki]

omg awesomeeeee

[kyle katarn]

hrh, sìltsan price

[Sarkath]

I wonder where they went to learn?

[kewnya txamew'itan]

Dislike. The sign in the first link is wrong! Ne is adpositional only, they want an infinitve. It should be srung si not srung (and should be subjunctive) and lrr is a derived word for happy anyway that's been replaced by nitram.

It should say "nitram srung sivi"

As for their slogan, it's impossible atm as we don't have a word for money or saving. Tough luck for them.

[Kayrìlien]

"Saving You Money Everyday"

Dammit, I don't want there to be a Na'vi word for money!

You have to admit, this is awesome! I wish the stores in America would do something like this...

Kayrìlien

edit: NNNNIIIIIINNNNNJJJJJJJAAAAAA

[kewnya txamew'itan]

I wonder where they went to learn?

Judging by the errors, I think they probably found one of the many word lists and plugged in the words and haven't learnt. I'm also willing to bet that they won't get the ejective in kaltxì right and I'd be surprised if they got the vowels.

It's probably actually one of the versions of taronyu's dictionary judging by the derived lrr.

"Saving You Money Everyday"

Dammit, I don't want there to be a Na'vi word for money!

You have to admit, this is awesome! I wish the stores in America would do something like this...

Kayrìlien

edit: NNNNIIIIIINNNNNJJJJJJJAAAAAA

It would be if they'd got it right. But, trust a large corporation, they haven't.



If anyone's near Pudsey we need you to go there and tell them they're doing it wrong.

[Meuia te Stxeli Tstew'itan]

ADVERT FTW! Do they teach their customers to get in here if they are interested in Na'vi? Because considering their awful slogan, they definitely should...

[Makto Falihu]

That is truly awesome, HRH

[kewnya txamew'itan]

ADVERT FTW! Do they teach their customers to get in here if they are interested in Na'vi? 

They'd better.

Whilst they're at it, they ought to tell the people who wrote that sign to come here too.

[/rant]

[eanayo]

And branches around the country will have shop signs translated into Na'vi.

*giggles*

I actually find that very amusing. Need to check out my Asda tomorrow, armed with a camera to document the signs.
That reminds me, I meant to ask them for the cardboard standies...

[Ftiafpi]

HRH! Clearly a publicity stunt but that doesn't make it any less awesome. I'd shop there every single day so that I could chat with the people in Na'vi.

[kewnya txamew'itan]

I've now commented on the first article voicing my concern and plugging the forums.

Ma ftiafpi, so would I if I could only be sure they actually understood, I have a feeling that all they'll have been taught is a poorly pronounced kaltxì and kìyevame/eywa ngahu and irayo.

[Kayrìlien]

HRH! Clearly a publicity stunt but that doesn't make it any less awesome. I'd shop there every single day so that I could chat with the people in Na'vi.

I've now commented on the first article voicing my concern and plugging the forums.

Ma ftiafpi, so would I if I could only be sure they actually understood, I have a feeling that all they'll have been taught is a poorly pronounced kaltxì and kìyevame/eywa ngahu and irayo.

It's still a cool gesture, I mean, yeah, there could be a few people that end up thinking that "Hello" in Na'vi is pronounced "Call-Tee", but I dunno, if we as a community can, perhaps, send a message to the company with, perhaps, audio recordings of the most common phrases so that they know exactly what they should be saying, maybe it could end up being more successful that we're thinking.

Then again, if they contacted JC and 20th Century Fox directly, I'd assume that they would simply relay the message to Karyu Pawl anyway, given that it's his domain of expertise.

Kayrìlien

[kewnya txamew'itan]

Sending them audio might be a good idea actually.

Ftiafpi is already guardian of the audio clips, I propose he find a way to contact them.

[Payoang]

I recommend contacting them to fix their errors. Hey, perhaps they'd even plug LN

[Nyx]

Fun idea but what is this? The Na'vi equivalent of Engrish? Send them info fast!

[kewnya txamew'itan]

I recommend contacting them to fix their errors. Hey, perhaps they'd even plug LN

Done. I've contacted them saying I approve of the sentiment but also with a correct translation of the sign and a link to audio clips of kaltxì, kìyevame and irayo in the audio dictionary.

[Niwantaw]

there's no na'vi in the adsas in cambridge.....

... or at least there wasn't any yesterday....

[kewnya txamew'itan]

I expect they're changing it tomorrow for the DVD release.