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The Na`vi Noun
Noun
Plurality Adverb modifier
Me+ Dual nì- makes noun an adverb.
Pxe+ trial
Ay+ four or more – prefix may be dropped on words lenited by it. Ex. Ay + tarouyu =
aysarouyu or simply saronyu.
Adjective modifiers
le- Makes noun an adjective
a- Makes this noun an adjective
For the noun immediately before it.
Case/function
(none) Subject of an intransitive verb.
-ìl, -l Agent of a transitive verb – ergative
case
-it, -t, -ti Direct object of a transitive verb
- accusative case
-ur, -r, -ur Indirect object of a transitive verb
- dative case
-ìri, -ri Topic marker. Can be used in place of
Any other case marker.
-ä, -yä genitive case – posessive
Plurality
-ng inclusive of speaker, 'us'
Adjective modifier
-a Makes this noun an adjective for the noun
Immediately after it.
Gender - infrequently used
-an Masculine -é Feminine
Note on case/function: If the noun being inflected ends with a consonant, the suffix that begins with a vowel is used. If the noun being inflected ends with a vowel, the suffix beginning with a consonant is used. The single consonant form is sometimes used on nouns ending in vowels.
Noun-related Definitions
Accusative – The case for the direct object
of a verb. Direct object.
Agent – The noun that enacts a transitive
verb.
Dative – The case of the indirect object of a
verb. A noun to which something is given.
Direct object – The noun which the verb
affects. Accusative case.
Ditransitive – A verb that needs a direct and
an indirect object.
Ergative – The case fot the topic of a verb.
Genitive – The possessive case of a noun.
Indirect object – The noun that is not affected
directly by the verb.
Inflection – A change to a word to mark its
function.
Intransitive – A verb which only needs a
subject.
Nominative – The case for the subject or
agent of a verb.
Subject – The noun which enacts a verb.
Topic – A subject that is the focus of the
Sentence and will appear in the next
several sentences. Overrides any other
case indication.
Transitive – A verb which needs a direct
object.
Lenition
When certain prefixes are added to a word (usually nouns) that begins with certain consonants, that consonant is changed. The following consonants are affected:
px becomes p
tx becomes t
kx becomes k
p becomes f
t becomes s
ts becomes s
k becomes h
` is dropped from the word
Prefixes which cause lenition are indicated by a '+' for a morpheme connector. Prefixes that do not cause lenition are indicated by a '-' for a morpheme connector.
Additionally, the adisposition word 'mi' will cause the following word to lenit, but only when used as a preposition. Even though this word is not a prefix, it is often shown as mi+ to indicate that the next word is lenited.
Prepared by `Eylan Ayfalulukanä
Ver 1.0 2-27-2010