Intonation

[SanguineEpitaph]

I was wondering whether or not it would be acceptable (as a native English speaker) to be tonal when I speak Na'vi. I know some languages (like Mandarin) are all neutral tones unless the word has a tone, but in Na'vi is this the case? Just wondering.

Irayo.

[kewnya txamew'itan]

We don't know. We're not even sure whether the words currently not marked for stress don't have stress or whether we just don't know where it is.

For now, I wouldn't worry about it.

[SanguineEpitaph]

We don't know. We're not even sure whether the words currently not marked for stress don't have stress or whether we just don't know where it is.

For now, I wouldn't worry about it.

Okay then! Irayo.

[omängum fra'uti]

I recall seeing in an interview with Frommer that a tonal language was one of his options to Cameron that was rejected, so we can probably infer tone carries no semantic meaning in Na'vi.

That said, English uses tone for inflection.  If you are making a statement you end on a down-tone.  If you are asking a question, you end on an up tone.  Giving exaggerated tonal variances during your sentence can convey a sense of sarcasm or that you otherwise aren't being serious about what you are saying.  Talking in a monotone voice conveys a sense that you are trying to sound like Ben Stein.

I suspect most of us will end up using the English intonations there, but strictly speaking, we don't know what inflection tone might imbue on what's being said in Na'vi.

[Nìwotxkrr Tìyawn]

Ben Stein is probably the only person that can actually pull off monotone, it's an incredible skill. 

[SanguineEpitaph]

That said, English uses tone for inflection.  If you are making a statement you end on a down-tone.  If you are asking a question, you end on an up tone.  Giving exaggerated tonal variances during your sentence can convey a sense of sarcasm or that you otherwise aren't being serious about what you are saying.  Talking in a monotone voice conveys a sense that you are trying to sound like Ben Stein.

Yeah, those were the tones I was referring to.

Irayo!