Professor Paul Frommer discusses the Na'vi language

[GeneticKH]

I wonder if they're not gonna have subtitles in the sequel? Like they'd want you to learn the language. Not like it's a good franchise anyway.

[elporteroful]

I want to learn 7 languages, but I can't afford classes or any programs. =/

[theguywholikescookie]

Fuck this shit!!

Klingon is way cooler!!

[CodyPlayStationGamer]

@theguywholikescookie Latin is!

[audveltadmuna]

i wish i was better at learning new languages... or maybe i just have bad teachers

[JoJo12777]

Paul should totally make a video series on how to speak na'vi!!

[Zcrazy123]

If Someone Watching this Knows The navi language Reply in it.

[JoJo12777]

@Zcrazy123 kaltxi, Oel ngati kameie.

[Zcrazy123]

@JoJo12777 MUST LEARN LANGUAGE!!! P.S. What does that mean

[JoJo12777]

@Zcrazy123 Hello, I see you. That is basically all I know, but I am still learning. Go to learnnavi(dot)com and they have lots of resources. hope this helps

[Zcrazy123]

@Zcrazy123 thanks oh HOW DO YOU SAY the name Zack

[Zcrazy123]

@Zcrazy123 ALL i know is that it would probably be pronounced Zock

[ricktheavatard]

@Zcrazy123 It would probably be Zäk, if you want it pronounced like the English.

[ricktheavatard]

@Zcrazy123 Srane, oel pxllte Na'viru. Oel ngati kameie. Ngaru tut?

[XOXOAnimeFreak]

i love that movie :D i watch it alot even on my imvu ima na'vi x3

[teshex54]

The Challenging sounds he spoke of already exist in the Amharic language which is the main language of Ethiopia. Now i know why it sounded familiar :)

[icekat83]

2:40.....Did he just say Sequel???

As a student of linguistics at Uni and a CONLANG fan this guy is about as close as I'll probably ever get to having an idol. :)

[CoquelandOv]

My point to people who say that it's pointless learning to speak a language with few speakers. You may learn to read music or something of the sort but you can't communicate with it, you use it to create art, that's what constructed languages are, art.

[ScorpiusIncorruptus]

Thumbs up for K.Pawl's thumbs-up "in the middle." I found that funny.

[Fall4Fashion]

that interviewer is soooo dull and boring

[sheriffstripey]

ayfo hasey niltsan fa uniltirantokx- They finished well with Avatar

[saphara00900]

@sheriffstripey

Where did you learn that?? I want to learn!!

[j0ofez]

The interviews is so fucking dull, Paul is so much more lively!

[gp680]

can the professor make like his own youtube account and just go over what he knows maybe if it wasnt so hard to find a good example this thing would really take off.

[Koshi0koshi]

3:33 interesting hand motion right there ;)

though I respect the guy, he has inspired me to create a language :)

[Koyuki14]

Did he seriously ask about texting in Na'vi

[dudeonthasopha]

i have no intention of learning this but it would be funny if more people started speaking na'vi instead of esperanto

[Skywalker91]

Am I the only one who found "...compared to learning something like german, or a known language" hilarious?

[kitty10174]

For what purpose would you want to learn a fictional language????!!!! Anybody going to Pandora?? Are the Na'vi asking for visas??? If you want to learn an exotic languange that you may... just may remotly be able to use... learn Cherokee... I love the movie as much as anybody but please don't loose contact with reality...

[blaalbblaalb111]

@kitty10174 Yeah i agree, why learn a completely fictional language? No one would understand you, you would go up to someone and say something like ..

Kaltxì oe tsun plltxe na'vi tsun nga

and they would be like WTF? and walk off lol

[OnceIWasJosh]

@blaalbblaalb111 It's so stupid thinking you just learn languages to communicate with people. Learning languages is a hobby. For those, who notice the beautiful sound of a language and notice the art, wether it developed naturally or not, behind it. So STFU

[blaalbblaalb111]

@OnceIWasJosh Did you not realize i spoke in Na'vi '' Kaltxì oe tsun plltxe na'vi tsun nga ''.

[freacls]

@OnceIWasJosh yeah thats so true well when i went to Italy i learned a bit of itailan just so i could speak to the lochals as some of the older pepole hardly spoke english also lernt a bit of Siciilan too as we went Scialy too but the Na"vi is like the star trek one for die hard fans and were never likely to run into a N"vi to say hi how are you to

[Skywalker91]

@blaalbblaalb111 - What about Quenya, Sindarin, Klingon etc? There have been people learning those for years already. ;)

[syxxfreakinstyx]

@kitty10174 it's just something fun. i hope no body is learning this to actually use outside of just calling your friend a moron or something. but hey if they do intend on using it for real then it's their problem.

[3rkid2]

@kitty10174

Why do you care what other people choose to do or learn?

[Koyuki14]

@kitty10174 party pooper

[grindstone1]

HRH!

[theKBman13]

Irayo for uploading!

Eywa ayngahu!

[alitllebitemo]

Hopefully I´ll get the "Avatar activist's survival guide" book for my birthday and from then study the language :D

[Skywalker91]

@alitllebitemo - I have it, it is very good, but I'm afraid there is not much about the language there. :(

I have found several words on the internet that are not in the book, and it is just a word list.

[alitllebitemo]

@Skywalker91 I have it too now :) Yes I noticed, but it is still good for practice :)

[MusicKrazyTH]

i wondered if there is a site that you can go to to get the entire language of Na'vi? Please contact me through my page.

[briannamaner]

@MusicKrazyTH learnavi.com (or .org )

[iflifegivesyoumelon1]

@MusicKrazyTH there is its called learnnavi. o r g

[DanielDouch]

he said that he would just make up a new word when needed, but I wonder how he decided what it should be

[FudgeYouVideos]

my computer froze at 3:36, funny face. felt like posting.

[Zanllin]

@FudgeYouVideos lol, he looks like the interveiwer just hit on him

[KMSigler]

God if we have txt versions of Na'vi this is going to get SO confusing...

...hell we lasted hundreds of years before butchering English, maybe we can hope for more from Na'vi lol

[TheCoryKid]

@ruzan10

Well, the thing is, I won't be telling my prospective employer that I'm bilingual. I'll be saying that I can speak five languages, and one of them happens to be Na'vi. They can laugh at that all they want, but I'll still know more languages than they do. And I can still speak English better than you.

[wweskulldiva]

3:34 THAT'S WHAT SHE SAID!! lol......

3:50 THAT'S WHAT SHE SAID once again!!!

I could do this all day.......THATS WHAT SHE SAID! OMG

I'll stop while i'm ahead....(thats what she said) k byez :P

[hellowhatever69]

LOL = HRH

[pumbaa19]

@hellowhatever69 HRH!!!!!!!!! thats funny...

[mersaphire]

this might be a chance ofr americans to have there own language which would be so cool i think we should create this language and keep a cultural language tell him that plllzzzz

[ruzan10]

this is so stupid. learn a real languages people!!!

[MaBu888]

@ruzan10

BENE. QVID LOQVI DEBEBITVR?

[jakedwashere]

@ruzan10 lol it is a real language that was made up it is an entire language

[callaghan128]

@ruzan10 ma lertu ruzan10 nga skxawng around the world many people speaks na'vi and many want to learn it because they like the movie and in the official game they speak it too so thats not stupid nga skawng!!!!

[TheCoryKid]

@ruzan10

Well, for those of us who have learned to speak and write English properly, the freedom exists to learn an invented language like Na'vi. You, obviously, do not have that freedom. And probably lack the capacity, as well. Besides, we can use Na'vi to talk to other people who speak different languages.

[ruzan10]

@TheCoryKid You go ahead and learn the "Na'vi bullshit! And let me know when you go out in the REAL world looking for a job if you dare to say bilingual in the job interview. I know the employer will laugh at your face when he/she hears that you mastered a fictitious and useless language such as "Na'vi" OOh you speak Na'vi how impressive!!!

[DruidFire505]

@ruzan10 I'm Learning It Just For shits And Gigs

[STARLIGHT5000]

@ruzan10 if the employer luaghs at you for having learned anything, then they probably aren't the kind of person u want in charge of anything

[StoneShoulderz]

Many of you ask "Why would anyone want to learn Na'vi? whats the point?"

The FACT of the matter is: People from all over the world are learning Na'vi, and can finally communicate together with THIS single language.

A German cant speak to a French person (assuming he doesnt know French).

However if they both know Na'vi, they can communicate!

That applies to ALL races.

There is no Language barrier!

Learn it :)

[FoxtrotNinja]

@StoneShoulderz

We already have languages, specifically for this. Nobody learns them because nobody knows them, and nobody knows them because nobody learns them. They're called International Auxiliary Languages, like Esperanto, Ido, Lojban, etc. Na'vi is much harder to learn than these.

People are only learning this because they want to connect to the movie, and don't care so much about what people actually speak.

[StoneShoulderz]

@FoxtrotNinja That...is simply your opinion.

[FoxtrotNinja]

@StoneShoulderz That is precisely my opinion. Who else's opinion could it have been?

[StoneShoulderz]

@FoxtrotNinja Then I suggest you don't speak as if you know only facts.

"People are only learning this because they want to connect to the movie."

You couldn't be more wrong Fox. That is why it's 'your opinion.'

People are choosing to learn this language because so many others around the World are doing the same.

Which is not the case for these other "International Auxiliary Languages."

Na'vi has united many people in the like interest of Na'vi culture and Communication.

Cheers Fox.

[FoxtrotNinja]

@StoneShoulderz I suppose as long as I live, anytime I speak, you would prefer I put a disclaimer on my words, as if people don't know what I say is my opinion? Grow up, man. Of course it's my opinion. That kind of thing can't actually be fact. Instead of just reading the words and misconstruing them into something you want them to mean, try to infer what I actually have to say.

[StoneShoulderz]

@FoxtrotNinja I cant change "your words" into something I want them to mean.

Nothing that I have said supports that.

"try to infer what I actually have to say. "

like.......

"People are only learning this because they want to connect to the movie, and don't care so much about what people actually speak."

How can I "misconstrue" that?

Look, im not attacking you, so stop defending yourself.

Im quoting you, thusly I cant change your words......

Let this conversation stop here Fox.

Cheers.

[Xinadium]

I love the Avatar nerds who are actually learning this. So cute.

[StoneShoulderz]

@Xinadium Learning a language, even if it has been created from a Movie, shouldn't deem someone a "nerd."

I thought they were called 'Linguists."

Rather than shoot down the idea, try it first.

[Xinadium]

@StoneShoulderz Wasn't knocking it, was I, asshole? Read my comment before you get touchy. And no, I won't try it. Thanks. Things to do, and all that.

[StoneShoulderz]

@Xinadium Apparently you do have things to do, like going around calling people nerds and assholes on Youtube.

What does that make you? (Rhetorical question.)

[TheCaligirly]

eyes in na'vi es nadi.

[StoneShoulderz]

@TheCaligirly Correction: eye in Na'vi is 'Nari'

Pluralized to eyes is 'MeNari'

You slightly roll the 'r'

:) 

[emilie2156]

srane. tslam Na'vi!

[AngelOfDeath454]

people dont reply to my comment i dont give a shit any more i just find this this retarded.

[Craig198724]

i'm learning this just for a little fun (i love languages).... and it's VERY difficult haha!

[xXxSkiLarxXx]

Hello everyone.

Im like the Na'Vi language and i want to start learning but it very hard for me.

any advice to start learning Na'vi?

[zane757]

@xXxSkiLarxXx go to learnnavi(dot)org

[GermanSeabass]

HRH~

[hypock1]

@BVargas78 That's to do with the human psyche, and practically nothing to do with survival of the fittest. The only way social orders can be related to the survival of the fittest is by looking at what empires/countries have fallen due to them.

[BVargas78]

@hypock1 true they will fall, and new ones will come in there place to rise and fall. But there always will be social orders, especially in hard times.

[Pintoleite3]

i am a na'vi, and i can speak na'vi

[Rhasphody]

Do you people ever do anything just for the fun of it?? I mean seriously. I don't have a lot to do; I enjoy the movie and considering that I sit around for 24 hours out of a day it seems like an interesting way to pass time to learn a language that doesn't really exist. That and it'd be an interesting way to talk in a code to a friend. So why not? Not everything in life has to be useful. Twitter, for instance. Seriously.

[XxGaMeRPrOdUcTiOnSxX]

I can barely even understand Spanish, there is no way i would waste my time Na'Vi, i liked the movies but im not obsessed with it.

[XxGaMeRPrOdUcTiOnSxX]

@XxGaMeRPrOdUcTiOnSxX with Na'vi*

[nasurdan]

this movie sucked... wtf people like bout it so much?

[altairPWK]

Oh my god, I love this movie, and I'm totally learning the Na'vi language.

[shmookins]

Frommer is a linguist. It's a pitty the interviewer has no idea what he is asking about. I would've asked him more about the linguistic characteristics of his invented language more than those waste of time over general questions.

[trulife12345]

I think this is strange...what is this language based off of?? to each his own I guess

[11trezor]

its similar to world of warcraft the natives, the animals, the floating mountains the huge tree the belief in anya their version of gaia mother earth ...etc

[TheCoolProfessor]

Now if only the PhD programs at Universities would accept this as a foreign language!

[SexDrugsPistol69]

bahaha.. this Navi language shit is basically a copy from the Maori language

[ScytheTiger]

@SexDrugsPistol69

Frommer is a linguist; he has studied many languages from around the world and has compiled bits and pieces of them to create Na'vi. He wasn't about to just write down a bunch of Q's and J's and call it an alien language; no, he did his research.

If I'm not mistaken, the basic grammatical structure is based on elements of Basque and Nez Perce, and the phonology is, yes, similar to that of many Oceanic languages, but, for example, Maori does not have ejective consonants.

[0neofthem]

the navi language is better than english.

[Caboose68]

never know when you're gonna run into a giant smurf, then you dont know how to speak Na'vi. But they know english. THEN WHO'S THE FOOL!?!?!?!

[microflex22]

The authenticity of the language intrigued me when I first watched the film; reminded me of Tolkien. It helps to create a depth of "reality" in a story.

James Cameron sees his world much the same way Tolkien sees Middle Earth. Or perhaps like J.K. Rowling see's Hogwarts. Their stories are in a way "real" to them.

[ticklemeoreo]

@microflex22 love this, you explained it perfectly!

[QuartuvLarry]

Why couldn't he have made it a suborbital language to klingon? It would've been easier.

[ticklemeoreo]

@QuartuvLarry Easier for what? o.0

[QuartuvLarry]

@ticklemeoreo Easier for nerds to learn it. It's just one movie, after all.

[ticklemeoreo]

@QuartuvLarry It's soon gonna be a few movies, but it's more than just as movie., For many it's a window to a completely different world, kind of like playing a video game. So why not be a part of it by learning the language and getting the full experience, while gaining friends of similar interests and create new and innovative projects.

You have no idea how many ideas have spawned from this one film, eco communities, computer software and yes real communities of people.

[QuartuvLarry]

@ticklemeoreo Ugh. No thanks. There's only so far into unreality that an audience member will go, and that's the theater. The movie wasn't that inspiring either. Stock script. I can create my own ideas WITHOUT having Hollywood think for me. Where are the good old days, when people who were bored studied astronomy, or microscopy? Now, it's some invent-a-language that supplements a name-brand product

No. Thanks.

[ticklemeoreo]

@QuartuvLarry The script has nothing to do with it, it's more the world Cameron created. Because not everyone likes microscopy and astronomy. Also don't think that people who learn Na'vi have nothing better to do, many have a lot going on in life, we just are open minded and like to try new things unlike some people. Stop judging something just because you personally don't enjoy it. To each their own.

[ScytheTiger]

Oel ke tslam lunit a sute lì'fyaru leNa'vi kin ke meuia sivi. Oe tsun pivlltxe nìInglìsì nìltsansì, slä nì'ul new nivume.

(I don't understand why people don't respect the Na'vi language. I can already speak English rather well, but I want to learn more.)

[gabbonoo]

clingon is more useful =D

[CrystalRaye]

@gabbonoo Because it's had what, 30 years to become popular and mainstream? Give Na'vi more time and I'm sure more people will be speaking it.

[KarrotKun1]

That'll be the day... when you can major in Na'vi Language at university lol...

[CrystalRaye]

@KarrotKun1 There is already at least one college I've read about that teaches Tolkien Elvish. Who knows. In 50 years maybe they will be teaching Na'vi in universities.

[michalchik]

I wish someone would have the guts to NOT make a sequel to a great movie with a complete story.

[krautzta]

People, all language is made up based on needs in communication. Even between creatures such as nerds who speak Klingon to each other.

[guerriero667]

This guy snuffed too much coke.

[Seniarth]

The Navi language sounds a bit of Asian, a bit of African, a bit of East European and a bit of hindi... it sounds like a mixture of languages

[monkeyroadkill7]

I think I'll start saying hrh instead of lol.

Or kekeke.

[filmo28]

Na'vi made human that and brought back to our world to stand trial

[theclinger]

Why hate on people learning another language? Do you hate linguistics and grammatical structures? It's a hobby, equivalent to me wanting to learn ASL even though I almost never see any deaf people. Oh, and go fuck yourself UniversalVision.

[UniversalVision]

The Klingons, Harry Potter, and now NA'VI! What a bunch of losers! Perhaps we could use this kind of language for military purposes, as to confuse enemy intelligence with our stupid language. But other than that, go to college and be productive! Was that BLUE chick that hot to get these guys hooked on NAVI?

[billytinkler]

@UniversalVision your an idiot. these are just nerds and it's an interesting hobby to them. why do you read novels or play video games?? has halo really improved your life? do you get off on the aliens and is that why you play? I speak 2 languages and i'm learning a third, and ill tell you that it's interesting to know how languages work and i've often wished i could invent a universal language that would avoid all the tricky bits that you can get with verbs, prepositions, accents, etc.

[UniversalVision]

@billytinkler Uh oh. Whatever I said before I don't recall, but seeing this I may have said something harsh. I it related to the Na'vi issue? Well, I don't play video games that much, but I prefer realistic genres like "Call of Duty", etc. I'm learning Chinese, Japanese, and Russian, and are deemed more productive than created languages. It looks cool, but seeing how religious fanatics are, they should revert to learning real languages than Navi. That's all. You have a good one now.

[australianpirates]

@UniversalVision apparantely she was. And while we're at insulting those who actually can figure out something else to do in their spare time besides write dumb comments on videos we dont even like but watch anyway, let's not forget the ancient language of Eragon's Alagaesia.

[Fab4Sunrises]

takea dep breath

2.think of someone you like

3.press f10 5 times

4.send this to 5 youtube videos

5.check your background

[UniversalVision]

@Fab4Sunrises Take a deep shit

2. Think of something AWESOME

3. Count 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, FIRE!

4. Launch this shit to 5 other videos

5. Check what JUST happened to your background

[teknojo]

Na'Vi

Klingon

Elvish

Ewokese

Spanglish

Latin

Woot! Made up language!

[coollord300]

@teknojo latin is real i thought

[teknojo]

@coollord300 You're right. I meant to say Woot! Made up language! Dead language! Learn some!

[RazorbladeRay]

Latin is real language dumb ass

[dannes22]

@teknojo Latin is real you stupid peace of shit.

[stryeker]

ahahah why are people learning this? learn Spanish or something helpful at least lol

[kscnanaki]

@stryeker why do you see this video? is helpful?

it doesn't need to be helpful for you to do it, you only have to like it, and enjoy doing it

this extends to everything, in my case, for example, i don't learn na'vi but do other (unrelated) things that are interesting or funny for me

why are people so narrow-minded?

[stryeker]

@kscnanaki Dude it is not like I am mad at you or anyone that wants to learn this language. I just think it is strange how you are learning a language from a sci fi movie when you can learn a non ficticous language such as Espanol or perhaps German.

[kscnanaki]

@stryeker yes, i know, i was not saying you are mad hehe i only said that if you don't like german, but na'vi, study the last, even it's useless. and that i don't understand why some people (maybe not you, sorry) is unable to understand that

[stryeker]

@kscnanaki It's fine bro you can study it if you want. It can be a bit more interesting than German or Spanish but it is more fun (in my opinion) when a large population speaks it and so can you, that is what I find cool.

[shmookins]

@stryeker Because unlike Spanish, Na'vi only has 1000 words and it's done for fun for convention meetings and what not.

Lighten up.

[stryeker]

@shmookins I am lightened up! :-D

[steveoconeevo]

@shmookins convention meetings? how is this useful in life?

[shmookins]

@steveoconeevo It's called having fun. Not every skill you learn in your life time is a survival skill. What, do you live in a jungle?

[steveoconeevo]

@shmookins how is learning a useless language and speaking it fun? fuck i can make up my own language meeka meeka juju

that means fuck off in my new language.

[shmookins]

@steveoconeevo It is fun because the people you use it with would be sharing a common interest: an interest in the world of Pandora. How is finding that amusing different from learning mother goose rhymes and children songs? Or is that useless to you as well? It's called 'fun', some of us like to have some sometimes.

How a boring and uninteresting life you must have...

[steveoconeevo]

@shmookins Yea no shit this is where I'm trying to tell you, this is not fun.

[shmookins]

@steveoconeevo Obviously not fun for you, and probably nor for me either, but who are we to shoot down such a harmles activity? not all of our time can be spent practicaly. Some 'waste' long hours chating online, some try to learn secret self-made languages. Oh, and childrn try to make up their own languages everywhere in the world so that adults can't understand them. It's natural, really. It has to do with child psychology. That transfers to adults on some occasions fueled by mutual interest.

[shmookins]

@steveoconeevo and what I am trying to tell you is harmless fun is harmless. Not everything we do need to be fruitful in the long run.

But I guess we both made each of our views clear and thus I have nothing more to ad. So I bid you farewell, good sir.

Cheers.

[steveoconeevo]

@shmookins meeka meeka juju to you as well sir.

[anasianperson1]

@steveoconeevo its not useless you can communicate with the na'vi people

[steveoconeevo]

@anasianperson1 what navi people, they don't exist. you mean other nerds who are trying to learn this.

[anasianperson1]

@steveoconeevo in the movie it does LOL

[ThyAsianMan]

@steveoconeevo lmao good one, but ur still a hater

[BaraPontus2LOL]

@stryeker it's fun :P

Why do people learn Klingon? lol

[ShaggE1771]

@stryeker Why not? Worst case scenario, it's a minor waste of time (like, say, watching YouTube videos tends to be). Best case scenario, it's an interesting conversation starter. Either way, people are having fun doing it, so what does it matter?

[stryeker]

@ShaggE1771 lol

[ShaggE1771]

@stryeker *sigh* Why do I bother with YouTube commenters? Even when you reply civilly to them, they can't form a thought more intelligent than "lol".

[daedricchamp]

@ShaggE1771 lol

[zane757]

@stryeker for fun its another language to learn even though its not that usefull that of it like pig latin y ppl learn that? for fun

[miamiwax]

this is fucking retarded

[DRAGSLICKS]

hrh

[AngelOfDeath454]

wtf people are learnin na'vi?!?!!?!?!

[coollord300]

@AngelOfDeath454 its just like those star trek fans how learned klingon lol

[AngelOfDeath454]

@coollord300 yeah i find it kind of weird and pathetic lol its like its just a movie lol

[foxxyryan]

@AngelOfDeath454 yea i am

[PurrfectPeach]

@AngelOfDeath454 It's the new Klingon! A way to ensure you won't reproduce without all the pain and mess of castration.

[chefluke52]

@AngelOfDeath454 nga skxawng oe ftia ne plltxe Na'vi :P

[anasianperson1]

@AngelOfDeath454 wtf your jealous

[AngelOfDeath454]

@anasianperson1 uhh how do u find that im jealous, i said its pathetic and weird its a movie it's like those star trek fans who learnd kilogin or whatever......

[TorukeyaTirea]

@AngelOfDeath454

Srane! Txan aysute nerume Na'vi lu! =D

(Yes! Many people are learning Na'vi! =D)

[JupiterIV]

@TorukeyaTirea I've got plans to translate Jules Verne's "A Journey to the Center of the Earth" into Na'vi, but don't know where to start. Can you help me out

[JupiterIV]

@TorukeyaTirea I've got plans to translate Jules Verne's "A Journey to the Center of the Earth" into Na'vi, but don't know where to start. Can you help me out

[mrDMando]

Hallo ik ben D.MANDO.

En ik wens jullie veel succes met alles.

Jullie kunnen mij ook zien op you tube.

Onder D.MANDO FINALLY IM FREE AGAIN.