fìtxan vs. nìtxan

Started by Eana Unil, June 12, 2012, 05:22:29 AM

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Eana Unil

I always wondered about that, so I just decided to stop brooding about it and instead ask you.

What's the difference between nìtxan and fìtxan?
When to use nìtxan, when fìtxan?
Can both be used together (in one sentence, right behind another)... as in something like "nìtxan fìtxan nang"?

How to say... for example... something like "I love him utmostly-terribly-super-duper-much" (overstressed comparison) the best way nìNa'vi?

(Nope, I'm not afraid to ask silly questions ^^)
Tì'eyngìri ayngeyä oe irayo sivi nìli!

Irtaviš Ačankif

fìtxan = so
nìtxan = very

For example, I love him utmostly-terribly-super-duper-much would be poan nìtxan nìtxan nìtxan nìtxan lu yawne oeru.

However, if you want to say, "I love him so much but you say I don't have a boyfriend!" it would be poan fìtxan lu yawne oeru slä nga plltxe san oeru ke lu yawnetu!
Previously Ithisa Kīranem, Uniltìrantokx te Skxawng.

Name from my Sakaš conlang, from Sakasul Ältäbisäl Acarankïp

"First name" is Ačankif, not Eltabiš! In Na'vi, Atsankip.

Marrek

Quote from: Eana Unil on June 12, 2012, 05:22:29 AM
I always wondered about that, so I just decided to stop brooding about it and instead ask you.

What's the difference between nìtxan and fìtxan?
When to use nìtxan, when fìtxan?
Can both be used together (in one sentence, right behind another)... as in something like "nìtxan fìtxan nang"?

How to say... for example... something like "I love him utmostly-terribly-super-duper-much" (overstressed comparison) the best way nìNa'vi?

(Nope, I'm not afraid to ask silly questions ^^)
Tì'eyngìri ayngeyä oe irayo sivi nìli!


Now I might get beaten up for this kind of answer I am going to give, but I will give it a shot anyway:

Txan means much, and fì- marks the demonstrative pronoun "this" which, apparently can also be used with adjectives. Thus it must be "this much" or as the dictionary says "to such an extent".

Where nì- comes from is a bit more uncertain, but as I translate it as "in" and that has worked out fairly well until now. "In much" would basically be the same as "very", and "very" is not limited in such a way that "this much" is. So if you put the two together it would be "this very much" which, to me, sounds a bit silly. Something restrictive and something that is not seems to have no place beside each other in a sentence.


Now, I'll be waiting for someone to correct me or tell me that I'm right, as there probably are other people here, that know much more than I do.

Edit: Ninja'd.

Eana Unil

Thanks very much much much  :P for your answers, I guess I got it now. ;)

Guess thinking about fì- and nì- more beforehand would have kept me from asking me and you this, but well... Shoot happens ^^