2.4 - ORTHOGRAPHIC CONVENTIONS

Na'vi Language Orthographic Conventions

Overview

Na’vi in general follows the spelling, punctuation, and capitalization habits of English, but there are a few differences.

2.4.1 - Proper Names

When taking lexical prefixes (5.1), proper names retain their original capitalization, as in lì’fya leNa’vi.

2.4.2 - Quotation

Direct quotes are not punctuated with quotation marks in Na’vi. Instead, it relies on the quotation particles san…sìk (6.21).

2.4.3 - Etymological Spelling

In addition to the occasional spelling of nasals to reflect etymology (2.3.5), there are a few grammatical processes that result in spelling that reflects the grammar more than the pronunciation.

2.4.3.1

The first person pronoun root oe, though pronounced we when taking a suffix, retains the original spelling (3.2.1.1).

2.4.3.2

Before words starting with y, the plural prefix ay+ is unchanged, ayyerik.

2.4.4 - Attributive Phrase Hyphenation

Certain short attributive phrases are written with hyphens joining the elements.

2.4.4.1

Attributive phrases of color using na are hyphenated, fìsyulang aean-na-ta’leng this skin-blue flower (6.18.3.1).

2.4.4.2

Participles of si construction verbs are also hyphenated, srung-susia tute a helping person (6.9.1.2).