The word "What"

Started by TimeisIndustry, September 25, 2011, 10:33:37 AM

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TimeisIndustry

ok so i know there are different versions of the word. i understand the "what's" except for one thing. how would something be if you where to say "What do you want?" or simply "...What?" is the word version labled as an utterance? you know instead of What (thing) lol if you understand thanks lol ;D

'Oma Tirea

"What", as well as all question words in Na'vi, can have multiple meanings:

Peu/'upe: what thing?  Strictly interrogative.  I might use this for a straught-up "what?" from time to time.
Kempe/pehem: what action?  Also strictly interrogative, and asks about what someone/something does.

The non-interrogative forms of the above (important to know, as sometimes I might see a peu written by a beginner where one wasn't really intended, i.e. they weren't asking a question):
'u a
kem a

NB the a is the "a of attribution."

As for translating your phrase, I usually say, "Peuti new ngal?"

[img]http://swokaikran.skxawng.lu/sigbar/nwotd.php?p=2b[/img]

ÌTXTSTXRR!!

Srake serar le'Ìnglìsìa lì'fyayä aylì'ut?  Nari si älofoniru rutxe!!

Blue Elf

Quote from: 'Oma Tirea on September 25, 2011, 10:43:08 PM
The non-interrogative forms of the above (important to know, as sometimes I might see a peu written by a beginner where one wasn't really intended, i.e. they weren't asking a question):
Seems that pe+ words can be used even when you don't ask a question, see Naviteri.
However, what is not comfortable for me, it is the only example (AFAIK) and that comment has no reply from Pawl...
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