Could/might/may

[Muzer]

Is there a word for could/might/may, or do you just use the <iv> infix? The sentence I want to translate is:

"There may be a problem on the server."

(Yes, I'm trying to translate Opera to Na'vi )

What I think it might be is:

"Livu kxeyey lelìma eltur lefngap."
(Be-subjunctive error adjective-far-adjattr computer-dative)

...but is there a special construction for might/may/could?


(Also, is there a "placeholder" ISO 639-1 code we are using since we don't have an official one? na and nv were taken, so I'm using ni for this, but I was wondering if there was one someone else came up with that is actually being used)

[kewnya txamew'itan]

could = tsivun
might = kxawm + <iv>
may = kxawm + <iv>

Also, the adjectival form of lìm would be "alusìm" or just "a lìm".

You could just use a subjunctive though.

What opera are you translating that involves computers btw?

[Muzer]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opera_(web_browser)


Thanks a lot

[wm.annis]

could = tsivun
might = kxawm + <iv>
may = kxawm = <iv>

Has this use of the subjunctive alone to indicate "may" every been confirmed for Na'vi?

[kewnya txamew'itan]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opera_(web_browser)


Thanks a lot

That makes a lot more sense HRH.

could = tsivun
might = kxawm + <iv>
may = kxawm = <iv>

Has this use of the subjunctive alone to indicate "may" every been confirmed for Na'vi?

Oops, that was a mistake, that was meant to be another +, I must have slipped from the caps lock. 

[Muzer]

I've used your example of "might". Thanks!


213 line done of the Opera translation, out of 9212. Note that these aren't actual lines of translation, but lines in the text file. For every line of actual text used in the browser, there are usually about 5 lines detailing where the text is used - which I'm not translating as they're not used in the actual browser.

(And I personally prefer Opera to Firefox or Chrome, so I'm afraid you'll have to live with the fact that I'm translating a much less popular browser rather than one of those two )

[NeotrekkerZ]

It might be just me, but can't we also <ats> for "might?"  Or do we need a contextual setup whereby we are making a specific inference based on available information:

Ex:  He's not here, he must/might be there.

[kewnya txamew'itan]

It might be just me, but can't we also <ats> for "might?"  Or do we need a contextual setup whereby we are making a specific inference based on available information:

Ex:  He's not here, he must/might be there.

In some cases, might could be <ats> but I think most of the time it won't be. The example you gave would use <ats> but "I might go hunting" I'd use a kxawm and <iv>.

[Tsamsiyu92]

It might be just me, but can't we also <ats> for "might?"  Or do we need a contextual setup whereby we are making a specific inference based on available information:

Ex:  He's not here, he must/might be there.

As far as i know, <ats> is more like showing uncertainity, not a possibily.

Example:
Oel palulukanit tspatsang.
I killed the thanathor. (i think...)

The nutshell-guide says at least that we use <iv> when a modal-verb is in the sentence and when you want to express a wish.

Examples:
Oe tsun tsaw t<iv>aron.
I can hunt that
Eywa ngahu l<iv>u.
May eywa be with you.


Don't kill me if im wrong.

[wm.annis]

The example you gave would use <ats> but "I might go hunting" I'd use a kxawm and <iv>.

Do we have any examples at all of the Na'vi subjunctive used by itself or with some other word merely to indicate uncertainty?  Outside dependent clauses we've only seen the subjunctive used in imperatives and optatives (wishes).  Kxawm by itself with the appropriate modal may be sufficient.

[Lance R. Casey]

Do we have any examples at all of the Na'vi subjunctive used by itself or with some other word merely to indicate uncertainty?

How about this...?

[omängum fra'uti]

(Also, is there a "placeholder" ISO 639-1 code we are using since we don't have an official one? na and nv were taken, so I'm using ni for this, but I was wondering if there was one someone else came up with that is actually being used)

There is not likely to be an ISO 639-1 code for Na'vi now or any time in the foreseeable future.  It's likely many years before Na'vi gets an ISO 639-2 code, if it ever does.  ISO 639-3 is probably the best you can do for any reasonably near time, and that's a 3 letter code.

[wm.annis]

How about this...?

Ah, either-or.  Good.    The subjunctive is doing quite a lot already.