Na'vi Lesson 1: Vowels and Ejectives

[TrueJournals]

Alright, this is my first attempt at creating a short video to attempt to help some people learn the Na'vi language.  If you guys like it, maybe I'll create more videos, and we'll have a series of video lessons to teach newcomers the Na'vi language.  If you don't like it... well, it was worth a try, right?

Attempt to embed the video in this post:
http://www.youtube.com/v/D4W0Gm4iSqI&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0&color1=0x006699&color2=0x54abd6
(Hmm... this is just showing up as a link... )

YouTube link: This video is wrong for use with ejected consonants
(I'm working on getting this on to http://talknavi.com)

Note: I am, by no means, a Na'vi expert.  I'd even classify myself as a beginner.  But, I hope to learn more and more as time goes on, and that could lead to more videos.  If I got anything wrong, please tell me and I'll create a new video, with the changes required.

Enjoy!  All feedback is welcome!

[edit]I've been informed that my pronunciation of Kaltxì at the end of the video is slightly off... Like I said, I'm learning   I'll see what I can do about getting a fixed video up...

[Tanhìyärina']

Irayo!  This was so helpful to me, especially with the overlay of letters and IPA symbols.  Please make more videos!

[wm.annis]

Frommer's LL article gives two pronunciations for u.  You picked the wrong IPA for the u you used. 

I'm a little nervous about how you describe o.  For most American speakers of English, /o/ is actually a diphthong, [ ow ].  Say "mow" and notice where you end up when you're done.  I rather suspect the Na'vi o doesn't have that off-glide — think of the accent from movie "Fargo."

I'm afraid something is not quite right with the ejectives, though they're heading to the right place.  I'll see if I can find any good examples on other videos (Navajo, Apache, Amharic, Mayan, all have ejectives...).

[Txur’Itan]

I would like an update when the whole sound system is perfected.

But the video is a good idea.

I am thinking we should all post some videos of our selves speaking, and critique that.

[Beduino]

Thanks man, that was a good video and a nice idea!
We are all here to learn, so keep up the good work and make more vids 

[cheeming]

that was an awesome video!  Very instructive just like we need.  Keep making more! 

You're teaching was great, the pace you were teaching at is also good.  Not to fast or to slow.  I think we all want to see more.  (well i do)

[brionywolf]

I'm following your videos on youtube.. thank you soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo much!!!!!!!

[TrueJournals]

Wow!  Thanks everyone!  I've really gotten an overwhelming positive response to this one simple video, so it looks like I'll have to make more

To all those who noted something incorrect in the video: irayo!  Really!  Like I said, I'm still learning, and even feedback that I did something wrong helps   All of the information in this video is based off the information on http://wiki.learnnavi.org, as well as Frommer's interviews.  wm.annis: you noted that I used the wrong IPA symbol for "o".  The wiki listed two, so I picked one.  Is the wiki wrong in listing two?

I'm still working more on ejectives.  Being a native English speaker, they're quite new to me.  The "closing your throat" explanation was taken from one of Frommer's interviews, and was the one that I understood best.  However, I've been told these, along with my pronunciation of "Kaltxì" is... "not quite right".  Again, I'm looking over all the feedback I've gotten, and I'm working on it

Due to Christmas, I'll be quite busy in the next day or so.  I'll try to make a new video as soon as I can, but I'm also getting my molars pulled on Tuesday (yikes!)  I'll see what I can do about getting a new video up on Monday night!

Keep the feedback coming!  Irayo!

[nebwahs]

Kaltxì!

First of all, I'm thrilled you've got out there and started off with some live videos of spoken Na'vi! It's surely a great step to further the language and get a little more exposure, along with being a great example to the rest of us.

I have just one query/correction to make about the pronunciation of ä. As far as I've gleaned from the various different grammar sketches I've read, the vowel ä is actually a schwa - more of a neutral "uh" sound. You've probably read a pronunciation guide written by a non-American with the example "cat", which with the American accent is more of a diphthong with a glide of the a - almost like two different vowels one after the other. I'm pretty sure a better example would be the word "arena", which has two schwas. Myself, with my rather different sounding Kiwi accent, I would pronounce it "uh-ree-nuh" (which is incidentally similar to the American pronunciation I think?). The sound you want for ä is that neutral, almost u sounding "uh".

As for the pronunciation of kaltxì, yes I think it was a little off; remember the a is long and the ì is short - almost like "kaal-txih".

Everything else seemed to be pretty good! I'm pretty rusty on the whole ejectives myself, so I can't really make any comments on them, but I think an apt way of describing them is a "pop". You seemed to go pretty well though 

Ben

[Pascal]

Waow, very nice 

[Motxokxen]

hmm, i'd have to critique on the ejectives, they seemed too airy, and needed to be more concise, remember that your not using any air from the lungs, and are simply using the mouth and throat to. You should listen to Dr. Frommer do some examples. 

[txum tukru]

just brilliant. do you mind if i set up a page for these videos and their audios available for download?

[JamesCameronOnline.com]

Thanks for that, the video definetely helps and is always better for learning a language than a written explanation

[Maweytu]

That's great.
Keep going!
We need more!p.s. please.

[tsko]

oh nicee, thats awesome! please make more

[Étienne]

Irayo
We need to see some more video's to help with out actual pronouncement of the language. More videos! 

[wward812]

that was great, i am actually understanding this. please make more

[Txura Tsampongu]

that was great, i am actually understanding this. please make more

yeah its helping me too! Rutxe si nì'ul!!!
(I couldve done that wrong  )

[omängum fra'uti]

Do be careful to watch both the date of a thread, and comments made on it.  This is from late December, when most people were still learning and nobody really had a lot of practice.  Like much of what was created at the time, this is a bit dated and inaccurate, as comments and edits to the first post have noted.