Adjectives
Actions that nouns are performing are very important, but sometimes you need to provide some more details to convey information or clarify which noun you are talking about. This is where adjectives come in. An adjective is any word that describes a noun. Some examples of English adjectives are blue, tall, strong, fast, and wise.
In this chapter, we will answer these questions:
- How do we use adjectives in Na'vi?
- When can I omit the a?
1. “How do we use adjectives in Na'vi?”
Up until this point, we have been free to put words in whatever order we desired. Case endings allowed us to tell how nouns related regardless of order. With adjectives, we are presented with a different problem. Now, we must answer what describes what!
Consider the phrase “the wise hunter finds the fast animal”. There are two distinct pairs of information: the hunter is wise, and the animal is fast. We must be careful to not confuse the animal as wise or the hunter as fast.
To make the relationship between a noun and an adjective clear, Na’vi places adjectives next to the noun they are describing. This is similar to how English uses adjectives, but with a bit of extra flexibility: the adjective can come before OR after the noun. Then, to make sure that it is clear which noun the adjective is describing, the sound a is added to the adjective, on the side “pointing” to the noun.
Consider the phrase “the wise hunter finds the fast animal”. There are two distinct pairs of information: the hunter is wise, and the animal is fast. We must be careful to not confuse the animal as wise or the hunter as fast.
To make the relationship between a noun and an adjective clear, Na’vi places adjectives next to the noun they are describing. This is similar to how English uses adjectives, but with a bit of extra flexibility: the adjective can come before OR after the noun. Then, to make sure that it is clear which noun the adjective is describing, the sound a is added to the adjective, on the side “pointing” to the noun.
win |
(adj.) |
fast (in speed) |
ioang |
(n.) |
animal |
|
wina ioang
the fast animal |
ioang awin
the fast animal |
Generally, you are limited to two adjectives per noun- one on each side. In most situations, this is more than enough specificity to make it clear what noun you are talking about.
If you really want to emphasize a certain quality, you can use the same adjective in both slots. This is a way of saying “no other adjective better describes this thing”.
wina ioang awin
the extremely fast animal
the extremely fast animal
Nouns that are described with adjectives can be used like any other noun. Just make sure to apply the appropriate case endings on your nouns, like before. The adjective is not modified by case endings.
|
ioangit awin taronyul atxantslusam run
the wise hunter finds the fast animal |
hahaw ngeyna tute
the tired person sleeps |
Think like the Na’vi!
Adjectives are additional information that just help narrow down which specific instance of a noun is being talked about. The noun is the thing involved in actions, not the descriptors. Hence, the noun always gets the case endings
Adjectives are additional information that just help narrow down which specific instance of a noun is being talked about. The noun is the thing involved in actions, not the descriptors. Hence, the noun always gets the case endings
2. “When can I omit the a?”
There are a few exceptions to adjectives. If there is already an a sound on the side of the adjective that points to the noun, you don’t add another. For example, with the adjective hona (cute, endearing), you do not add the a when the adjective is to the left, but do on the right.
|
hona ioang
|
ioang ahona
|
There is another instance where the a can be omitted. A large number of adjectives begin with le-, often called (simply enough) le-adjectives. These are formed from other words in the language, usually nouns or verbs. Since there are so many of these words formed in a regular fashion that are always adjectives, the Na’vi language leans into this to save space. The le- prefix may be treated as an a for purposes of connecting an adjective to a noun.
trr |
(n.) |
day |
fpom |
(n.) |
wellbeing, peace, happiness |
lefpom |
(adj.) |
well, peaceful, happy, pleasant |
|
lefpoma trr
pleasant day |
trr lefpom
pleasant day |
Given the option, it is preferred to use the right-side adjective slot when using le-adjectives, as you save a syllable.
Think like the Na’vi!
You may add an a to the beginning of a le-adjective, though this is unusual as the Na’vi try to keep things short and simple. trr alefpom is valid, but rare
You may add an a to the beginning of a le-adjective, though this is unusual as the Na’vi try to keep things short and simple. trr alefpom is valid, but rare
In Summary
1. How do we use adjectives in Na'vi?
Adjectives must be placed next to their noun, with an a added to the side of the adjective pointing to the noun.
2. When can I omit the a?
If the adjective already begins or ends in an a on the side it would be added, the sound doesn’t need to be repeated.
le-adjectives also don’t need a left-side a.
Adjectives must be placed next to their noun, with an a added to the side of the adjective pointing to the noun.
2. When can I omit the a?
If the adjective already begins or ends in an a on the side it would be added, the sound doesn’t need to be repeated.
le-adjectives also don’t need a left-side a.
NA'VI AS A SECOND LANGUAGE
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Transitivity and Indirect Objects
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Lu - the Most Misunderstood Word
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