Language Matters | Incarnations of the word avatar – from visiting deity to sci-fi hit and online personality

An avatar was the earthly incarnation of a Hindu god, and seen in other religions. Today, it’s a well-known word in films and ...
Los Angeles Times

USC professor creates an entire alien language for ‘Avatar’

James Cameron has big aspirations for ‘Avatar,’ and here at Hero Complex we’re stepping up with some epic coverage plans: a 30-day countdown. Today’s topic: The USC professor who found himself on an ...
The Cheat Sheet

Sam Worthington Found Learning the Alien Language in ‘Avatar’ Easier Than Doing an American Accent

For actor Sam Worthington, starring in James Cameron’s Avatar was a life-changing experience. The film not only boosted his profile, but he had the chance to work with a prolific director with a ...
Gizmodo

Avatar Linguist Wants Na’vi Language to be the Next Klingon

The Na’vi language in Avatar isn’t just a collection of pretty sounds. It’s an actual language, constructed by a USC linguistics professor, complete with its own grammar and syntax. He talks language ...
PBS

A Lesson in the Language of ‘Avatar’

Paul Frommer had never aspired to invent a language, but when James Cameron — director of the highly-anticipated “Avatar” — e-mailed the University of Southern California’s department of linguistics ...