Infixes, Part 1 - When
Up until now we’ve only been using the present tense form of verbs- things that are currently happening or could happen. But now it’s time to introduce the past and future into conversation. This will be the first of three foundational lessons on a unique tool in Na’vi grammar- the Infix.
In this chapter, we will answer these questions:
- What is an infix?
- How do we indicate tense?
- How do I know where to put an infix?
1. “What is an infix?”
In previous chapters we have used both prefixes and suffixes to modify words. These are mechanisms that should be familiar to most English speakers. But Na’vi has another kind of affix- the infix, which goes inside a word.
In some fringe cases, English does actually use infixes, though only in slang and not for any meaningful purpose. Consider if you were having a party “up in this hizouse” and it was “in-freaking-credible.” Both <iz> and <freaking> are examples of English slang infixes.
In some fringe cases, English does actually use infixes, though only in slang and not for any meaningful purpose. Consider if you were having a party “up in this hizouse” and it was “in-freaking-credible.” Both <iz> and <freaking> are examples of English slang infixes.
2. “How do we indicate tense?”
As you may have guessed from the title of this lesson, infixes are how Na’vi indicates tense. There are many different infixes, but for purposes of this lesson we are going to focus on four simple ones. First, <am> and <ay>.
|
oel payoangti y<am>om
I ate fish (past) |
oel payoangti y<ay>om
I will eat fish (future) |
By inserting <ay> and <am>, we can specify the verb happened in the past or future- but the Na’vi concept of tenses does stop there. Na’vi can also specify the recent past or near future. These are done with <ìm> and <ìy>.
|
oel payoangti y<ìm>om
just ate fish (recent past) |
oel payoangti y<ìy>om
I will soon eat fish (near future) |
You may have noticed a pattern with the infixes that makes them easier to remember. Those that begin with ì are near, where those that begin with a are far. Similarly, the ones that end in m are related to the past, where ending in y corresponds to the future. This is best demonstrated in a grid:
Many learners often ask “what defines near vs. far?”. The answer to this question, like most, is “it depends”. If we were talking in the context of an entire lifetime, last year would be very recent! But, in the context of day-to-day activity, last year could be a really long time ago. The best advice I can give in this regard is that If it “feels recent” to you, then it probably is!
Think like the Na'vi!
Because of the availability of the more specific near-tenses, <am> and <ay> are often used for far-future and far-past, though they can technically be used for a general past/future, as well.
Because of the availability of the more specific near-tenses, <am> and <ay> are often used for far-future and far-past, though they can technically be used for a general past/future, as well.
So, we know that we must insert these infixes inside a verb. But WHERE in the verb?
3. “How do I know where to put an infix?”
There are very consistent rules for the placement of infixes- but their placement is dependent on the type of infix being used. In this lesson we’ve covered tenses, which go in position <1>. As you may have guessed, there are several categories of infixes, and other positions that they go in. For now, we will only concern ourselves with position <1>.
Position <1> is before the penultimate (second-to-last) vowel of the verb. In situations where the verb only has one vowel, it simply goes before that one.
Position <1> is before the penultimate (second-to-last) vowel of the verb. In situations where the verb only has one vowel, it simply goes before that one.
|
taron
t<1>aron |
yom
y<1>om |
Think like the Na'vi!
Infixes always* begin with a vowel and end in a consonant. Since they precede a vowel, this will always result in a valid, pronounceable word.
Infixes always* begin with a vowel and end in a consonant. Since they precede a vowel, this will always result in a valid, pronounceable word.
*: except for one that we will cover in the next chapter but don’t worry about it
It wouldn’t be a language without exceptions, so let’s get those out of the way! As you remember, the verb part of a si-verb is the si, so that gets the infixes.
|
po srung s<am>i oeru
he helped me |
po sr<am>ung si oeru
INCORRECT |
Try it yourself!
Identify infix position <1> in the following verbs, and practice the four infixes we’ve covered. What does the resulting verb mean? When it is taking place?
Identify infix position <1> in the following verbs, and practice the four infixes we’ve covered. What does the resulting verb mean? When it is taking place?
|
tse'a
txopu si |
fpe'
tìran |
omum
frrfen |
Many Na’vi words are two or more others combined to make new meaning, and verbs are no exception. When this is done, it is often a noun and a verb combined. When this happens, the verb component holds on to the infix- the vowels in the compound word don’t affect infix position.
ral |
(n.) |
meaning |
peng |
(vtr.) |
tell |
ralpeng |
(vtr.) |
translate, (lit. “meaning-tell”) |
|
fìpukit Entul ralp<ay>eng
Entu will translate this book |
fìpukit Entul r<ay>alpeng
INCORRECT |
Think like the Na'vi!
As you pick up more vocabulary, you’ll find it easier and easier to recognize compounds. Noticing compounds makes it easier to remember words, too!
As you pick up more vocabulary, you’ll find it easier and easier to recognize compounds. Noticing compounds makes it easier to remember words, too!
If you are unsure of an infix position, you can always double-check with a dictionary. Verb entries will include dots (•) at infix positions <1> and <2>. We’ll cover <2> later, for now just know it exists and comes second. Let’s dissect a dictionary entry to show how to find this information.
As you can see, the infix position breakdown of taron is t<1>ar<2>on.
This “before the penultimate vowel” rule is what Paul Frommer has officially declared as the rule to use for determining position <1>. HOWEVER, at time of writing, there is an easier way to calculate its position: Before the first vowel. Since currently there are no three-syllable root verbs, “before second-to-last” is indistinguishable from “before first”.
If Frommer ever creates a three-syllable root verb, however, this will go out the window!
One final note about infixes, they do not change the stress of a word. Every word with 2 or more syllables has one that is typically stressed. For example, in English, we say BACKwards, not backWARDS. Na’vi is the same way, except we add affixes to words, which can change the number of syllables. Fortunately, the stress doesn’t change when we do so.
Stress is “stored” in vowels in Na’vi. This is to say that if the stress on taron is TAron, regardless of how the word is modified, the syllable with the A is the one that will be stressed.
This “before the penultimate vowel” rule is what Paul Frommer has officially declared as the rule to use for determining position <1>. HOWEVER, at time of writing, there is an easier way to calculate its position: Before the first vowel. Since currently there are no three-syllable root verbs, “before second-to-last” is indistinguishable from “before first”.
If Frommer ever creates a three-syllable root verb, however, this will go out the window!
One final note about infixes, they do not change the stress of a word. Every word with 2 or more syllables has one that is typically stressed. For example, in English, we say BACKwards, not backWARDS. Na’vi is the same way, except we add affixes to words, which can change the number of syllables. Fortunately, the stress doesn’t change when we do so.
Stress is “stored” in vowels in Na’vi. This is to say that if the stress on taron is TAron, regardless of how the word is modified, the syllable with the A is the one that will be stressed.
|
taron
|
tayaron
|
tìyaron
|
tamaron
|
In Summary
1. What is an infix?
An infix is an addition to a word that goes inside the word, instead of before (a prefix) or after (a suffix).
2. How do we indicate tense?
Tense is indicated by an infix inside a verb.
3. How do I know where to put an infix?
Tense infixes go in position <1>. Position <1> is located before the second-to-last vowel of the verb.
Some compound verbs can have irregular infix positions.
In dictionary entries, infix positions are denoted with a dot • .
Because there are no three-syllable root verbs (yet), infix position <1> can also be thought of as before the first vowel.
Stress is preserved on the vowel, regardless of infixes.
An infix is an addition to a word that goes inside the word, instead of before (a prefix) or after (a suffix).
2. How do we indicate tense?
Tense is indicated by an infix inside a verb.
- <am> - general past
- <ìm> - near past
- no infix - assumed present tense without other context clues
- <ìy> - near future
- <ay> - general future
3. How do I know where to put an infix?
Tense infixes go in position <1>. Position <1> is located before the second-to-last vowel of the verb.
Some compound verbs can have irregular infix positions.
In dictionary entries, infix positions are denoted with a dot • .
Because there are no three-syllable root verbs (yet), infix position <1> can also be thought of as before the first vowel.
Stress is preserved on the vowel, regardless of infixes.
