Kaltxì, ma frapo!
It’s been an unusually busy month for me, but the things I’ve been involved in have been quite interesting. Spaw oel futa fayu ayngane zayawprrte’ nìteng. 🙂
To kick off the second half of the year, I thought it would be fun to have another little contest, this time to create new proverbs and idiomatic expressions.
My idea is this: Entrants would contribute either one new proverb, one new idiomatic expression, or one of each. I’d receive the contributions anonymously, judge them, and announce the results. Entries will be judged on creativity, aptness, conciseness, and naturalness–that is to say, the sense that these proverbs and expressions evolved naturally among the Na’vi and often turn up in their conversation. Winning entries that I feel make the grade will become part of the official language and appear in our dictionaries.
Guidelines
Proverbs
These can be of three types.
Type 1: Proverbial expressions that uniquely reflect the Na’vi, their culture, and their environment. These could not have developed anywhere but on Pandora. Examples:
Kxetse sì mikyun kop plltxe.
‘The tail and ears also speak.’
Ätxäle si palukanur tsnì smarit livonu.
’Ask a thanator to release its prey.’
Txìm a’aw ke tsun hiveyn mì tal mefa’liyä.
‘One butt can’t sit on the backs of two direhorses.’
Type 2: Proverbial expressions that are not necessarily unique to Pandora and could have arisen elsewhere, but that play with the Na’vi language:
Kem amuiä, kum afe’.
‘Proper action, bad result.’
Fwäkì ke fwefwi.
‘A mantis doesn’t whistle.’
Payìl a lipx tskxeti ripx.
‘Dripping water pierces a stone.’
Txo ke nìyo’, tsakrr nìyol.
‘If you can’t be flawless, then be brief.’
Type 3: Proverbial expressions with the characteristics of both Type 1 and Type 2.
Note that the intended meaning of a proverb is not necessarily apparent at first glance. (What does “A mantis doesn’t whistle” mean?) But once it’s explained, it should feel natural. (In this example: ‘Don’t expect someone to do something that’s not in their nature.’)
Idiomatic expressions
These are brief conversational phrases unique to Pandora:
(na) loreyu ’awnampi
‘like a touched helicoradian’
pewn torukä
‘the Toruk’s throat’
sre fwa sngap zize’
‘before the hellfire wasp stings’
(na) kenten mì kumpay
‘like a fan lizard in gel’
With these idioms as well, the meanings may not be immediately apparent, but once explained, they should be clear and striking.
What do you think? Do you like this idea? If so, what’s the best way to implement this little contest? In particular, what’s the best way for me to receive the entries anonymously? I’m open to suggestions! Let me know your thoughts in the comments.
Hayalovay!
Edit to add: 10 July
Pìlok tolätxeiaw!!!
As some of you may have noticed, the blog was offline for a short time. It was due to a bureaucratic error, and getting the problem resolved was frustratingly difficult. But eventually it worked out. I am very relieved!
Fya’o angäzìk ne kum akosman. (‘All’s well that ends well.’) 🙂
Ma Eana Unil, ma Vawmataw, ma Plumps, ma Wind12, ayngeyä aysämokìri sì tìslanìri seiyi oe irayo. I agree that Google Forms is a good solution to the anonymous contribution question. I’m working on an appropriate form.
I’m glad you like the contest!
Kaltxì ma Pawl!
Tì’efumì oeyä, sìltsana säfpìl akosman leiu nìwotx. Tsayfnelì’ukìngvit awngal keiyin nì’ul~
Tsivun sivar ngal sä’oti alu Google Forms fte sutel sneyä säfpìlit sämokitsì fpive’ ngaru luke fwa frapol stxoti upxaretisì tsive’a fu ivomum.
Tìsung;
You could instead use a contact form here on your blog (temporarily) via plugin, like on a additional page (like those you already have on here, “About” and “Other languages”) so people could use this instead of an external form to send their ideas directly to you via email, if you would prefer that.
Well, those are the only two ideas I can offer, hope they maybe are of help 😀
Kaltxì ma Karyu Pawl! Sunu oer tsasäfpìl. 🙂
As Eana Unil suggested, a Google Forms or a contact form is a good idea. This would provide a central place to collect the ideas without relying on different people from different places. The entries will also remain anonymous (I think you’ll have to edit the contact form so to not make people write their name).
There are also several websites that create surveys, but I think it’s the easiest way to just start something on Google Forms if you have an account (we’ll never know your address).
I don’t have anything new to add except that I think this is a great idea and so generous that you offer the community this opportunity!
Kosmana säfpìl ma Karyu. Irayo.
Ma eylan,
Please see the July 10th “edit to add” at the end of the post.
Fwa pìlok tolätxeiaw oeru teya si – sngum soli nì’it, hrh. Tolätxaw nìprrte’ ma pìlok.
Plltxe pìlok san Irayo, ma ‘eylan. Furia tätxaw ‘efu oe nitram nìngay.
Pìlok kem soli kem alu “tìsyor zìskrrsomä” (summer vacation) 😋 lu alaksi fpi säwäsultsyìp. 🙂