RE: What is the Na’vi language in Avatar (2009)?
I'm impressed by the fictional Na'vi language in Avatar (2009). Who developed this unique language and what are some key phrases?
The Na’vi language in James Cameron's Avatar (2009) is indeed a fascinating linguistic accomplishment. It was created by Dr. Paul Frommer, a linguist and former professor at the University of Southern California. His task was to develop a language that was humanly speakable and learnable, yet distinctly alien, and he indeed succeeded.
The Na'vi Language has a complete structure with its vocabulary and grammar rules. A few key phrases in Na’vi would be:
1. "Oel ngati kameie" - "I see you."
2. "Kaltxì" - "Hello"
3. "Ngaru lu fpom srak?" - "How are you?"
It is also interesting to note its complex phonetics, which include ejectives (pronounced with a glottalic iniative airstream), and the use of a roman alphabet but with different sound values than English, among other features.
It's a fully-fledged Language, which means you could technically even have a full conversation using Na'vi, and there are communities of fans on the internet who have dedicated themselves to learning and promoting this unique language.
For those interested in learning more about the Na’vi language, there are resources available online, including dictionaries and grammar guides. This is an interesting demonstration of the creativity and innovation that can go into world-building in film, and the cross-discipline collaboration between the fields of linguistics and cinema.