Dr. Paul Frommer Talks about Dialects in the Na’vi Language

We always suspected that the Na’vi language may be a bit different in other places on Pandora, and it looks like that is true. In Avatar – The Way of Water, we hear the Reef People speaking in their particular dialect of the Na’vi language.

Dr Paul Frommer is wasting no time letting the world-wide Na’vi language community know the details of the Reef Na’vi dialect in his presentation at Omaticon on January 15, 2023. Paul also describes dialects in general and how they play a part in natural and constructed languages.

A big irayo! to the folks at kelutral.org for organizing this Omaticon and for hosting the Zoom meeting with Dr. Frommer for his presentation!

Here’s the YouTube video of that presentation:

Na’vi Sign Language with CJ Jones

For those interested in the Na’vi Sign Language seen in Avatar – The Way of Water, Lightstorm has sponsored a series of YouTube videos with information and interviews with CJ Jones. CJ is the creator of the sign language used by the Reef People when they are underwater. Since this sign language is an entity unto its own and not a spin-off or altered version of the spoken Na’vi language, a separate companion website for it is under construction. When completed, we will post a notice here in the LearnNavi.org News tab. Stay tuned for that!

You can find a playlist of Na’vi Sign Language videos here on YouTube!

The Songcord Lyrics

 

If you heard Zoë Saldana singing in Na’vi at the end of The Way of Water and wondered what the lyrics are, Paul Frommer posted them on his blog.

From Karyu Pawl on Naviteri.org:

Neytiriyä Waytelem   Neytiri’s Songcord

Verse 1:

  1. Lie si oe Neteyamur,                       I experience Neteyam,
  2. Nawma Sa’nokur mìfa oeyä.       (And) Great Mother, within me.
  3. Atanti ngal molunge,                      You brought light,
  4. Mipa tìreyti, mipa ’itanti.             New life, a new son.
  5. Lawnol a mì te’lan.                          Joy within my heart.
  6. Lawnol a mì te’lan.                          Joy within my heart.

Chorus:

  1. Ngaru irayo seiyi ayoe                   We thank you
  2. Tonìri tìreyä,                                      For the nights of (our) life,
  3. Ngaru irayo seiyi ayoe                   We thank you
  4. Srrìri tìreyä,                                       For the days of (our) life,
  5. Ma Eywa, ma Eywa.                      Oh Eywa, oh Eywa.

Verse 2:

  1. Zola’u nìprrte’, ma Kiri.              Welcome, Kiri.
  2. Ngati oel munge soaiane.            I bring you to the family.
  3. Lie si oe atanur,                               I experience the light,
  4. Pähem parul, tì’ongokx ahuta. A miracle arrives, an unexpected birth.
  5. Lawnol a mì te’lan.                        Joy within my heart.
  6. Lawnol a mì te’lan.                        Joy within my heart.

Chorus repeats

 

On YouTube: