Na’vi 103

More “Fine Print” Rules

LENITION: it exists to be annoying to soften harsh, initial sounds
kx k px p tx t ts s
k h p f t s ‘ nothing*
This is relevant in:
1. Making a noun or pronoun plural
2. Using certain adpositions – there is a RULE
3. Who/What/When/Where/Why/How Questions – affix -pe+: RULE

Na’vi “count”: 1, 2, 3, many (≥4) – using me+ (2), pxe+ (3), and ay+ (many)
Singular: (1) no prefix payoang a fish
plurals: (2) me+ mefayoang two fish
(3) pxe+ pxefayoang three fish
(4 or more) ay+ ayfayoang* fishes
*optional: (≥4) (omit ay+) fayoang fishes

Adpositions:
1. Are “relationship” words, like with, around, into, across, etc.
2. Come either before a noun/pronoun, or attached to the end of it
3. Only some* of them cause lenition; these are marked with a +
fpi+ for the sake of pxisre+ right before
ìlä+ by, via, according to ro+ at (location)
lisre+ by, before, up to sko+ as, in the role of
mì+ in, on sre+ before (time)
nuä+ beyond wä+ against (fight)
*the other adpositions never cause lenition
 Na’vi 103
RULE: any of the adpositions marked with a + cause lenition in any
word they come right before when free-standing in front of the
noun/pronoun, but do not when attached to the end of the word
For example: mì tayo OR txayomì on the plain
For example: wä sìnga tsamsiyu OR tsamsiyuwä atsìng against 4 warriors

Who/What/When/Where/Why/How Questions:
1. Words above are premade of -pe+ (what) and a base (ie time, way)
2. Other questions can be asked by adding -pe+ to an ordinary noun
RULE: lenition occurs when -pe+ is attached to the beginning of a noun,
but does not occur when -pe+ is attached to the end of the word
For example: peseng OR tsengpe what place = where
For example: pehelku OR kelkupe what/which house

More information about:

“Si” Verbs:

1. Are two-part Intransitive verbs, the second half being “si”

2. Are the most likely Intransitive verbs to act like Transitive verbs
3. Have a couple of RULES involving the “si” which is the active part

RULE: EVERYTHING goes into the “si” (all infixes*) *next lesson
RULE: negative words (rä’ä and ke) must go immediately before the “si”
For example: Po pamrel ke si. He/she doesn’t write.

Numbers:
Octal = base 8 (8 fingers), not Decimal = base 10 (our system)
For example: zam = 64 = (8 x 8) is equivalent to our “standard” 100 = (10 x 10)