See in the vague metaphorical sense?

[Muzer]

Which see, if any, would you use for the general metaphorical sense (as opposed to the spiritual sense) - for example, I'll see what I can find, we'll see, I see (as in I understand) etc.. The last one I could probably replace with a non-metaphorical one (I understand), but I can't figure out how to express the first two. Should you use either of the two "see"s that we know, or should you try to express it more literally? Do we know either way? Since nari si means "look/watch out", could there be more metaphorical senses using "nari"?


(It's not for anything in particular, I'm just curious)

[Feiane]

Someone else could probably answer better, but I'd avoid using kame or tse'a for all three of those situations.

oe fwayew
awnga ìyomum
oe tslolam

Most of the time when we use 'see' in a non-spiritual, non-physical sense, another verb will do just fine.

[Muzer]

I suppose so - I was just wondering since "see" seems to be such a diverse metaphor in English and quite a few other languages, if it did exist in at least one other form in Na'vi. I presume the answer, then, is that we don't know (yet)... oh well.

[omängum fra'uti]

Well, we do have Tsu'tey saying "Tse'a srak?" but he was literally saying "See (this example of what I mean)?" - metaphorically they might not at all.  I've used "Tse'a oe" myself, but it doesn't feel right.  It doesn't feel like what Na'vi would say.  Nor does "Kame oe".  So my gut feeling is that they wouldn't use either in all those senses.

But perhaps they would, and kame would be more likely.

[Kì'eyawn]

When does Tsu'tey say "Tse'a srak," ma tsmuk?  I don't remember that line (granted, i haven't watched the film in a long time).

[omängum fra'uti]

*Jake collapses as Quaritch hits the big red button*
Tsu'tey: Tse'a srak?  Fìpo lu vrrtep mì sokx atsleng!  Tsun ke rivey...
Neytiri: *Defends jake*
Tsu'tey: *Gets beat up for the second time in 15 minutes*

[Kì'eyawn]

K.  I'll have to listen for it next time i watch the movie.  I just got it this week, so hopefully i'll get a chance in the next few days.  Irayo, ma tsmuk.

[kewnya txamew'itan]

*Jake collapses as Quaritch hits the big red button*
Tsu'tey: Tse'a srak?  Fìpo lu vrrtep mì sokx atsleng!  Tsun ke rivey...
Neytiri: *Defends jake*
Tsu'tey: *Gets beat up for the second time in 15 minutes*

I'd argue that he's being entirely literal there, and is talking about the physical evidence of Jake's supposed demonhood and falseness by collapsing.

[Carborundum]

*Jake collapses as Quaritch hits the big red button*
Tsu'tey: Tse'a srak?  Fìpo lu vrrtep mì sokx atsleng!  Tsun ke rivey...
Neytiri: *Defends jake*
Tsu'tey: *Gets beat up for the second time in 15 minutes*

I'd argue that he's being entirely literal there, and is talking about the physical evidence of Jake's supposed demonhood and falseness by collapsing.

Well, we do have Tsu'tey saying "Tse'a srak?" but he was literally saying "See (this example of what I mean)?"

I see (literally) no disagreement here.

[kewnya txamew'itan]

Oops, I missed that sentence and thought omängum was referring to 'seeing' Jake's true self.