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Providing added dimensions to specific aspects of the actors’ performances are noted linguist Paul Frommer, Ph.D., who worked with Cameron to devise an entire language for the Na’vi; as well as Terry Notary, a former Cirque du Soleil performer, and celebrated choreographer Lula Washington, who respectively helped the create Na’vi movements and the choreography for the Na’vi dancers.

As with so many aspects of AVATAR, the Na’vi language brings together the completely original with the familiar and relatable. Early in the process, Cameron provided Frommer, a professor at USC, with the kinds of sounds the filmmaker had in mind for the Na’vi. Frommer then designed a linguistic palette. This complex work resulted in the creation of hundreds of words, as well as a specific structure and grammar, all of which the actors learned with skill and speed.

The cast also worked closely with dialect coach Carla Meyer to fine-tune the dialect for the invented tongue.

Frommer explains: “The Na’vi have similar sound limitations as humans, enabling the Avatar scientists to actually learn and speak (the Na’vi tongue)... “It was all about giving Jim possibilities and options,” says Frommer. “Some sounds he liked; some not. Then we locked in the language’s structural properties, pronunciation rules, and how the words were built.”


Australian actor Sam Worthington plays ex-Marine, Jake Sully in Avatar 3D.

Sam Worthington’s linguistic challenges were heightened by the fact that the Australian native had to learn to speak not only a new language; he had to acquire an American accent. “It was like learning two languages,” says Worthington. “And let me tell you: the Na’vi (language) was easier than the American accent!”

“I spent at least two hours a day working on the American accent and learning the Na’vi language,” Worthington continues. “I worked to phonetically break the language down, so it didn’t sound like I’m acting through gauze.” Worthington notes that Jake’s grasp of the Na’vi language is a work-in-progress throughout the story, which allowed or even necessitated the occasional linguistic slip-up.

Zoë Saldana and Laz Alonso, both fluent in Spanish, found it easier to learn the Na’vi language, walking away from the AVATAR shoot as probably the only actor/ tri-linguists in the world fluent in….Na’vi. But perhaps the most fun with the invented patois was had by the film’s crew, which adopted specific Na’vi words – skowng, meaning “moron,” was a particular favorite – to playfully tease one another.

Dance and movement studies also enabled the actors to delve further into their characters. Na’vi dance choreographer Lula Washington, artistic director of the Lula Washington Dance Theater, notes that the Pandora natives celebrate themselves through dance. “They’re an elegant, proud people who love their land. In that respect they’re close to our aboriginal cultures.” The dancers from Lula’s troupe became part of the cast, as members of the Omaticaya clan, and their graceful, feral movement can be seen throughout the film.

Terry Notary created movements inspired by indigenous cultures as well as animals like big cats and primates. Notary explains: “We worked to answer questions like, How would the Na’vi touch? How would they reach? How would they move when they’re happy? And how would they use their tail?”


Neytiri (Zoe Saldana) and Jake (Sam Worthington) make final preparations for an epic battle that will decide the end of an entire world. Photo: WETA.