I 'd love to travel to Pandora: Paul Frommer

It wouldn’t be incorrect to say that Paul Frommer speaks a different language from the rest of us. The only difference is that his language has taken the world – and Box Office collections – by storm. This linguistics consultant and communications professor at the University of Southern California, USA, has created the language of the stunning Na’vi race in James Cameron’s second cinematic phenomenon, Avatar.Excerpts from an interview...
How does it feel to be part of the second biggest grosser in movie history, and now also a Golden Globe Award winner for Best Picture and Best Director?
It was an honour to be involved in a movie that has created history. The competition, I feel, was pretty stiff (at the Golden Globes). But in a way, it was like comparing apples with oranges. They all are different kind of films. I was of course, delighted when James and Avatar won. I hope the success continues.
Last year, it was Slumdog Millionaire that swept the Golden Globes and the Oscars. How did you like that one, and how does it compare to Avatar?
I think they’re two very different films. Even though I have never been to India, I found SM interesting and extremely absorbing. Somewhere, it was also a difficult film. I like Bollywood films.
I lived in Malaysia for two long years in the mid-1960s. I can’t forget that even at that time – and I don’t know if it’s still true – Bollywood films were very popular. The young Malay kids, I remember, would not only watch Bollywood movies but learn Hindi songs too. The Dev Anand-starrer Guide is one film I will never forget. Mohd Rafi and Lata had sung for it. I still have the movie’s CD. Its music was composed by SD Burman. That’s the best score of any movie I’ve heard!
Would you like to meet Dev Anand?
I’d love to meet anybody in Bollywood! They all are wonderful. Just a few days ago, I watched a Bollywood film. It was a recent film and the title began with the letter F. It was an interesting film; the story revolved around a terrorist and the female protagonist is a blind girl.
Are you referring to Fanaa?
Yes, it was Fanaa! That was an intricate film and I watched it at an Indian friend’s home. My friends had prepared a wonderful Indian meal. They invited us over and made puris which were simply delicious. In fact, when John (John Brinkley, his partner) and I have to go out to eat, we always agree on this Indian restaurant near our place. The masala dosa there is simply great.
Would you want to work with any Indian filmmakers and explore opportunities in Bollywood?
If anyone needs an alien language, why not?
Do you wish the Na’vi community really existed?
I would love to travel to Pandora some day. The world that James has created is so detailed. In many aspects, it is also so appealing. I can imagine the place with floating mountains, incredible plants, animals, the danger lurking and more than anything else, the ability to fly.
People have reported feeling depressed and suicidal after watching the movie and finding the real world pale in comparison to Pandora’s beauty.
What? My God! That’s a very intense reaction. I think people should really look at this in the right perspective. It is an incredible fantasy world. If the message gets across that we don’t want this to happen to our planet, then James Cameron has succeeded in doing some real good. The other thing is that the movie doesn’t end on a sour note. In the end, good triumphs, the bad people are sent away and the planet is recovered. We all need to take it as an idea of what may happen to us too so that we take appropriate measures now.
How many mails do you receive each day with people asking ‘Where can I learn this language?’
Everyone is asking that question! I’ve received at least 500 mails. As you know, there is a growing online community trying to learn the language. I had sent a proposal to the producers asking them how we could be of help in this regard. I don’t own the language. We are looking at ways to get the language out to the public, to get the rules formalised and a dictionary made.
Does the movie also have a topical, political perspective? Do you think it contains a scene that echoes the events of 9/11?
There has been a lot of discussion about this. I will let others decide this.
The sequel of the movie is also being discussed. In fact, James has been quoted as saying, ‘I have a 6,000 page outline. Now, if I could just reduce that to a shoot-able script!’ Will the Na’vi language be used in that as well?
I haven’t talked to James about the sequel. I would imagine that the sequel will have the language. I think, right now, people are stepping back and relaxing a little bit before they plunge into a sequel.
Have you been able to watch the deleted lovemaking scene in Avatar? Do you think it was right to delete it?
I went to see the movie twice – the first time, during a special screening for the cast and crew, and later, with some friends to a movie theatre. I can’t comment on whether it was right to delete the scene or not, because my experiences on the sets were more to do with the language. However, I think what is in the movie seemed very appropriate.
What was more challenging – creating the Na’vi language or helping the actors speak it? Zoe Saldana had said that the language was interesting, but she had trouble learning it.
Both were challenging in different ways. Creating the language was an intellectual effort. Working with the actors was a delight, but it had its own challenges. I’d say, both were challenging yet enjoyable.
Zoe is very modest, and I think she was very good. She is bilingual – speaks English and Spanish. I think that when you speak more than one language, learning another language is easier. I think she did very well. In general, actors had a difficult time because they had to memorise the lines in Na’vi and deliver the dialogues convincingly so that it looked natural. In addition to this, they also had to act and emote. The actors neither had any cue cards nor signs they could look at. It was difficult for them.
When you were to teach the language to Sam Worthington, was there any discomfort?Sam had said in an interview said that he’s a guy who throws a lot of attitude, which apparently also got him the role.
Sam was very cooperative. He did a fine job. There’s a scene when Neytiri tries to teach him a word – a little language lesson that she gives. Sam (Jake) repeats the word in an American accent. The funny thing is that that’s not acting. Sam did have a problem pronouncing the word correctly. So we used that rather than making him act. I think that genuine problem in translation added realism to the scene. It was fun. If any of the human characters speaking in Na’vi made a mistake, we didn’t have to worry much, because that added a touch of reality. Unlike the Na’vi natives, humans were expected to make mistakes. Sam was cooperative and it was a delight to work with him.
What have you learnt or gained from this experience?
I have gained insight into an industry that I never understood before. I have met wonderful people and realised that they are not gods, just dedicated people in all industries – academia or Hollywood. They try and work hard. More than anything else, I was shocked by the reaction I received from fans. It explains how influential a movie like this can be. Therefore, I feel I have a responsibility to shoulder when people turn to me for guidance (in learning the Na’vi language). I hope I can provide it soon.
Has your respect for Hollywood increased?
Yes, very much! I don’t think I would have ever realised the attention paid to even the most minute detail. For instance, every plant in Pandora has a name and a page-and-a-half’s description to help people know how it grows, how it’s used by local people, and what danger it can pose. They not only have names in English, but Latin and Na’vi names too. Sometimes, you won’t see these plants for more than a couple of seconds in the movie. But every effort has been made to make it real. I have heard that thousands of people worked for the movie. All of them were dedicated, which impressed me the most.
‘Avatar’ or ‘Avatara’ is an Indian word. Do you wish to learn any of the Indian languages?
I’d love to learn Indian languages – Hindi and Urdu. I do know a bit of Persian because I lived in Iran for a year. This makes it easier for me to recognise a few Urdu words. I know the Arabic script, so Urdu is easy to read. I know namastey and shukriya in Hindi, thanks to my Indian friends. Devnagari is a beautiful script. I would love to learn it along with the Dravidian languages of south India. Even though I don’t understand a single Tamil word, I love the language, for it has a wonderful and delightful sound. The vocal tradition in south India is beautiful. I’m so much in love with their ragas and taals.
There’s also the Na’vi video game. Do we get to hear swear words in that?
There are two video games. They do have one in Na’vi, I worked very long and hard on the dialogues. I haven’t seen the video game myself because I’m from a generation that doesn’t play these games. There was just one swear word which meant ‘Oh, to hell with that’ or ‘screw that’.
Since Guide is your favourite Bollywood film, can we expect a translation of it into the Na’vi language?
You have to tell me if that fits in with the plot. If anybody would like to give me that assignment, I would consider it.
Any other literary works you’d like to translate?
I haven’t thought about it. Maybe Romeo And Juliet. The play has parallels with Avatar. It is a love story. It is about how love grows despite difficulties. And yes, Othello too.
How would you feel if you were to find a boy proposing to his love in Na’vi?
That’d be delightful. I have two emails from people who have asked me to verify certain translations because they want to get them tattooed on their body. I don’t know how I feel about that. I didn’t know how to respond to it so I told them, ‘Even though I’m not your parent, I’m probably much older than you. But please think very carefully before you get that tattoo done. When you put something like that on your body, it will be there forever. Are you sure you want to get these words in a made-up language tattooed on your body?’ I just hope people think about it very carefully. I would urge people to maintain some reality about this. I got disturbed when I heard about the person who contemplated suicide after watching the movie. It is a wonderful movie, but in the end, it is a fantasy. You have to distinguish between fantasy and reality.
Could you tell us a little bit about your personal life?
I have been in a relationship for the last 40 years. John Brinkley, my life partner, and I met in New York in 1969. We’ve lived in the same house in Los Angeles since 1971. John was pretty thrilled when I got the project. He has been a great support.
Which James Cameron movie is your favourite?
Of course, Avatar! I enjoyed Titanic very much too, though. Yes, I did have tears trickling down my cheeks when I watched Titanic.
Was it the same when you watched Avatar?
Both the times I watched Avatar, I had tears in my eyes. It was a moving experience. I cried when Neytiri rescues the human Jake and cradles him in her arms. I thought it was very moving.
China has recently announced that Avatar will be pulled off screens there...
I believe in freedom of speech as a key value. I don’t agree with censorship of any kind. I believe that only people who feel insecure need censorship. I think people should be allowed to see what they want to see.