Sci-fi word suggestions

Started by Fmawnä Plltxeyu, March 12, 2010, 11:43:21 AM

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Fmawnä Plltxeyu

Kaltxì everyone. I figured since we're all science fiction fans (most of us, I assume), we could work on getting some sci-fi words out of the community and Frommer. Here's a few I know I'd like to see:

Plasma
Antimatter
Laser
space (as in outer)
ray
radiation
Nuclear
Fusion
Electromagnetic

And as an aside; is tanhìsìp a canon word?

Feel free to add your own. I doubt I've even scratched the surface. Maybe later we can work on including these in a message to Frommer.

Na'rìghawnu


Since the Na'vi are a neolithic culture, they for sure don't have words for lasers, plasma and alike. They hunt using bows and arrows, not rayguns! There's a wide consensus, that it's most important to develope the language according to what the Na'vi would need.

Txur’Itan

If the Na'vi see such things in the sequels, they might equate light, or lightening, or bioluminous qualities along with shapes, or sounds.  They might have words that resemble storm noises or names.  When early Earth civilizations encountered new things, they used words they already had to describe it.  The world-wide-web is not made by spiders, and there are no horses pulling automobiles but they are a part of how we describe their power.  ;D

Plasma ~ depending on how it was observed might be equated to lava, or smoke, or a variation of fire.

Ray + Laser ~ Lightening sound metal stick/tree-limb/tree-branch.  Many of the beam weapons would be lumped together, since only an advanced technological society would know or care about the differences.  The RDA did not use these things in the fight, but that could be caused by regulations they had to follow.

Radiation ~ most likely would only be thought of in the context of poison or heat.  Even if they have uranium ore, or an equivalent on Pandora, and if the Na'vi ever came near any, they might use it to make yellow glaze to their ceramics like persons did on Earth around 79 CE.  Living over Uranium deposits can cause exposure to radon gas, so it could be thought of in that context.  Also, it glows in the dark, it could be a night luminous color word for the uranium ores with a kinship to green.

Antimatter + Nuclear + Fusion + Electromagnetic ~ would be borrowed words if they are ever used at all.

Cannon ~ if observed would likely be onomatopoeia like machine gun, or laughing.
私は太った男だ。


wm.annis

Frommer refused to translate one sentence for an interviewer because he said he'd have to ask Cameron how the Na'vi did business.  I don't see us getting these words unless a sequel requires them.

Txur’Itan

Quote from: wm.annis on March 12, 2010, 03:12:43 PM
Frommer refused to translate one sentence for an interviewer because he said he'd have to ask Cameron how the Na'vi did business.  I don't see us getting these words unless a sequel requires them.

20 Questions then?  How do Na'vi typically form new words, as Na'vi?
私は太った男だ。


wm.annis

Quote from: Txur'Itan on March 12, 2010, 03:14:29 PM20 Questions then?  How do Na'vi typically form new words, as Na'vi?

That route seems more likely to get us satisfying answers.  ;)

'eylan na'viyä

i think it is more likely that the na'vi name the mashines and maybe classify them by the actions the can perform, their appeareance or their usage, and not the principles and technology unless the majority of them gets an engeneering education.

Keylstxatsmen

Quote from: Txur'Itan on March 12, 2010, 03:14:29 PM
Quote from: wm.annis on March 12, 2010, 03:12:43 PM
Frommer refused to translate one sentence for an interviewer because he said he'd have to ask Cameron how the Na'vi did business.  I don't see us getting these words unless a sequel requires them.

20 Questions then?  How do Na'vi typically form new words, as Na'vi?

Noted!

-Keyl
Oeru lì'fya leNa'vi prrte' leiu nìtxan! 

Txo nga new leskxawnga tawtutehu nìNa'vi pivängkxo, oeru 'upxaret fpe' ulte ngaru srungit tayìng oel.  Faylì'ut alor nume 'awsiteng ko!

Fmawnä Plltxeyu

I could see the Na'vi getting into some of these words. Especially if the sequels delved into the science more (which would be awesome). Either way, I can't believe Frommer would be entirely against trying to come up with some of them.