Overview
Certain grammatical processes cause changes in the first consonant of a word. This change is called “lenition.” Only eight consonants undergo lenition.
| Consonant | Lenition | Example |
|---|---|---|
| px, tx, kx | p, t, k | txep but mì tep |
| p, t, k | f, s, h | kelku but ro helku |
| ts | s | tsmukan but aysmukan |
| disappears | ’eylan but fpi eylan |
2.2.1 - Glottal Stop
The glottal stop is not lenited when it is followed by a pseudovowel ('mì ’Rrta' not '*mì Rrta*').
2.2.2 - Adpositions
A few adpositions cause lenition when they precede a word: 'fpi', 'ìlä', 'mì', 'nuä', 'ro', 'sko', 'sre' (and derived 'lisre' and 'pxisre'), 'wä'. When suffixed they do not cause lenition in either the word they are attached to or to the following word.
2.2.3 - Number Prefixes
Prefixes which cause lenition are indicated with a plus sign, rather than the usual dash, as in 'ay+', the leniting plural prefix.
2.2.4 - Question Prenoun
When used as a prefix, the question prenoun 'pe+' causes lenition (3.3.3), as in 'pehem' what (action)? from 'kem' action, activity.
2.2.5 - Numbers
Suffixed, dependent forms of the numbers are lenited (4.1.3), as in 'vopey' eleven (8+3), but 'pxey' three.
2.2.6 - Proper Nouns
Proper nouns still undergo lenition. 'oe kelku si mì Helutral' I live in Hometree
2.2.7 - Reef Na'vi
Although the ejectives in Reef Na'vi surface as voiced stops at the start of a word, the rules of lenition still apply as in Forest Na'vi. That is, though 'txon' night is pronounced as 'don' in Reef Na'vi, the lenited form is still 'ton'.