Difference between revisions of "User:Erimeyz/Beginners' Guide: Na'vi Now"

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Placeholder for '''Na'vi in a Nutshell'''
 
Placeholder for '''Na'vi in a Nutshell'''
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[Introductory text goes here]
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== Letters and Sounds ==
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The Na'vi alphabet consists of seven vowels: '''a, ä, e, i, ì, o,''' and '''u'''; and twenty-two consonants: '''p, t, k, f, s, h, v, z, m, n, w, r, rr, l, ll, y, ts, ng, px, tx, kx,''' and '''<nowiki>'</nowiki>'''.  The letters '''rr, ll, ts, ng, px, tx,''' and '''kx''' are written using two latin characters but represent a single Na'vi letter and sound. The apostrophe '''(')''' is a ''glottal stop''.  The letters '''px, tx,''' and '''kx''' are ''ejectives'' and are distinct from '''p, t,''' and '''k'''.  The letters '''rr''' and '''ll''' are ''psuedovowels'' and are distinct from '''r''' and '''l'''.  Na'vi also has four diphthongs: '''ay, ey, aw,''' and '''ew'''.
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Na'vi is ''phonetic''; each letter always has the same sound.
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The vowels and diphthongs have the following sounds:
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::'''a''' - ''baa'' (as in "Baa baa black sheep")
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::'''ä''' - ''bat''
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::'''e''' - ''bet''
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::'''i''' - ''marine''
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::'''ì''' - ''bit''
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::'''o''' - ''boat''
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::'''u''' - ''flute'' or ''put'' (can be pronounced either way)
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::'''ay''' - ''kayak''
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::'''ey''' - ''obey''
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::'''aw''' - ''cow''
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::'''ew''' - No equivalent in English; glide from Na'vi '''e''' to '''w'''
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Most consonants have the same sounds as they commonly do in English.  Exceptions are noted here.
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'''p''', '''t''', and '''k''' are unaspirated, as they are in Spanish.  At the end of words, they are unreleased.
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'''ts''' and '''ng''' are pronounced as in English ''cats'' and ''singer'', but unlike in English they can often be found at the start of a word.
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'''r''' is pronounced with an alveolar flap or tap, as in the Spanish word ''pero'' or the middle of the English word ''ba'''tt'''er''.  '''rr''' is an alveolar trill, aka a "rolled r".  Na'vi '''rr''' is heavily trilled.
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The pseudovowels '''rr''' and '''ll''' act as a vowel in a syllable.  For example, the Na'vi word '''krr''' is a ''k'' followed by a trilled ''r'', with no vowel sound in between.  '''ll''' is pronounced like the end of the English word '''crackle'''; for example, the Na'vi word '''kllkulat''' begins with a ''k'' followed by ''l'' with no vowel sound in between.  Na'vi '''ll''' is always light, never dark.
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The glottal stop '''<nowiki>'</nowiki>''' is pronounced like the catch in your throat in the middle of the English word ''uh-oh''.
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The ejectives '''px''', '''tx''', and '''kx''' are pronounced as follows: hold your breath, then make a P, T, or K sound as loud as you can without breathing.  Ejectives use air from your glottis, not your lungs, i.e. they are "ejected" using the air in your mouth while holding your breath.  If there is a vowel after the ejective, release your glottis and use air from your lungs to pronounce the vowel; do this as soon as possible after pronouncing the ejective, so that the sound flows smoothly from ejective to vowel.
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To do:

Revision as of 18:49, 25 January 2010

Note: This beginner's guide is a work in progress. There is still a lot to be done before it gets released. Feedback from everyone is welcome, including from beginners and experienced Na'vi learners. Please add your comments on the Beginners' Guide talk page, or post to one of the Beginners' Guide threads on the Learn Na'vi forum (such as the Letters and Sounds thread), or send a forum PM to Erimeyz.



Placeholder for Na'vi in a Nutshell

[Introductory text goes here]

Letters and Sounds

The Na'vi alphabet consists of seven vowels: a, ä, e, i, ì, o, and u; and twenty-two consonants: p, t, k, f, s, h, v, z, m, n, w, r, rr, l, ll, y, ts, ng, px, tx, kx, and '. The letters rr, ll, ts, ng, px, tx, and kx are written using two latin characters but represent a single Na'vi letter and sound. The apostrophe (') is a glottal stop. The letters px, tx, and kx are ejectives and are distinct from p, t, and k. The letters rr and ll are psuedovowels and are distinct from r and l. Na'vi also has four diphthongs: ay, ey, aw, and ew.

Na'vi is phonetic; each letter always has the same sound.

The vowels and diphthongs have the following sounds:

a - baa (as in "Baa baa black sheep")
ä - bat
e - bet
i - marine
ì - bit
o - boat
u - flute or put (can be pronounced either way)
ay - kayak
ey - obey
aw - cow
ew - No equivalent in English; glide from Na'vi e to w

Most consonants have the same sounds as they commonly do in English. Exceptions are noted here.

p, t, and k are unaspirated, as they are in Spanish. At the end of words, they are unreleased.

ts and ng are pronounced as in English cats and singer, but unlike in English they can often be found at the start of a word.

r is pronounced with an alveolar flap or tap, as in the Spanish word pero or the middle of the English word batter. rr is an alveolar trill, aka a "rolled r". Na'vi rr is heavily trilled.

The pseudovowels rr and ll act as a vowel in a syllable. For example, the Na'vi word krr is a k followed by a trilled r, with no vowel sound in between. ll is pronounced like the end of the English word crackle; for example, the Na'vi word kllkulat begins with a k followed by l with no vowel sound in between. Na'vi ll is always light, never dark.

The glottal stop ' is pronounced like the catch in your throat in the middle of the English word uh-oh.

The ejectives px, tx, and kx are pronounced as follows: hold your breath, then make a P, T, or K sound as loud as you can without breathing. Ejectives use air from your glottis, not your lungs, i.e. they are "ejected" using the air in your mouth while holding your breath. If there is a vowel after the ejective, release your glottis and use air from your lungs to pronounce the vowel; do this as soon as possible after pronouncing the ejective, so that the sound flows smoothly from ejective to vowel.


To do:

  • One-page overview of the language - orthography, phonology, grammar, etc.
  • Not enough detail to learn from
  • Just enough to whet the appetite and provide a basis for learning the details