studied the language for five years

[Ashen Key]

According to the movie, the training for the actual Avatar Program MISSION is three years, and in a deleted scene Norm says that he studied the Na'vi language for five years (and he does have a PhD in xeno/anthropology, even if we don't know what he specialized in beyond the Na'vi).

So, do you guys think that those five years of language and three years of mission overlap, or is Norm referring to five years before the mission PLUS the three years mission time?

I can't work it out, and it's bugging me (also, rather important for massive backstory!fic *g*)

[Sothis]

Hmmm, I always imagined that they overlapped, as I don't think he would've *stopped* studying the language upon enrolling in the Avatar training. But I can't be 100% sure.

In the deleted scene in the shack where norm's ranting after Grace asks him to operate jake's link... he says "I studied ___ years for this mission!" Does he say 3 or 5 there?

[Ashen Key]

Originally Posted by Sothis

Hmmm, I always imagined that they overlapped, as I don't think he would've *stopped* studying the language upon enrolling in the Avatar training. But I can't be 100% sure.

In the deleted scene in the shack where norm's ranting after Grace asks him to operate jake's link... he says "I studied ___ years for this mission!" Does he say 3 or 5 there?

I didn't think he would have STOPPED studying, no, but more kept up the studies while trying to learn everything else. And my thinking is that as an anthropologist, he'd...concentrate on the language more? Because it'd be so important. So to me it makes sense he has more of a grounding in it before he turns up to the program itself.

Just trying to work out if those two years would be enough of a grounding, but on the other hand, the RDA probably doesn't release a lot of information so being IN the program would mean more access to information and words and so on. *rubs head*

And he says three years, which matches what Grace said about Tom.

[tm20]

maybe he learned Na'vi for 2 years before beginning his training.

[Human No More]

It definitely makes sense that he kept learning while doing Avatar training -especially with the intended role of avatars. Starting 2 years beforehand would make sense, especially in order to be considered for avatar training in the first place. Norm had probably wanted to go to Pandora for years and years and had always been working towards it

[Ashen Key]

Originally Posted by Human No More

. Norm had probably wanted to go to Pandora for years and years and had always been working towards it

Possibly not ALWAYS - he's, what, in his early thirties in canon? - but for a long time, oh, yes. For the scientists, and particularly the Avatar program, I imagine it'd be a whole lot of work. Years worth.

And two years pre-mission makes the most sense. *rubs head* I just need to go and poke at academia and work what if he did it for his thesis, or something he picked up AFTER the phd.

[ahoragi]

Originally Posted by Human No More

Norm had probably wanted to go to Pandora for years and years and had always been working towards it

Like all of us here.....

[Palalukan Makto]

I think that it all makes sense, but if asked to make a theory.

He knew Alot about Grace, and evidently read the book she wrote ( Pandoran Botany ) which was mentioned in the first couple of chapters.
one thing left out as well, if you do 3 years of training to get prep'd for the deep space launch to pandora, maybe he had to do 2 year's of prep'ing on his own while elsewhere in the RDA to get induction into the program and being able to speak even Basic Na'vi would be something torwards gettin in.

[Fwel Vitra]

Originally Posted by Muddeprived

Like all of us here.....

Agreed. It would make sense that he would have studied the laguage before and during his training. I'd like more on his background...