| Navajo is a member of the Athabaskan family | | | | |
| of languages spoken in the southwestern | | | | Artwork also had gender roles by way of males |
| United States by the Navajo Nation. Its | | | | producing jewelry, and women crafting rugs |
| native name is Din?izaad. It's unique in that | | | | and clay pots. Today men often farm, and |
| most of the other Athabakan language family | | | | females can join the military. |
| members are from the north. | | | | |
| | | | The Navajo language is comprised of four |
| It's also ranked as the most highly spoken | | | | vowels: a, e, i, and o. Vowels come up |
| Native American language of all, with a | | | | short, long, or nasalized and employ high to |
| 178,000 speakers. Unlike numerous other | | | | low, rising to falling tones. Combinations |
| tribal tongues, the use of the Navajo | | | | such as short/nasalized/low tone can be made. |
| language has actually grown over time, not | | | | |
| declined. | | | | Tones are very popular in the Navajo speech, |
| | | | rounding out practically every word, adding |
| The spelling for Navajo came from the Spanish | | | | up to a very lively language. The sounds of |
| language. Literally, it is a Pueblo Indian | | | | Navajo are similar to Apache languages, but |
| word meaning "farmlands". It is speculated | | | | different from any others outside of that |
| that this name was given due to the Navajo | | | | group. |
| nature of settling and farming. | | | | |
| | | | The subject-object-verb speech is packed with |
| The Navajo peoples' traditional name of | | | | complex verbs. Each verb mandates at least |
| Din?izaad is translated "the people" (what | | | | one prefix, with a maximum of eight. Navajo |
| most Native Americans call themselves). The | | | | accounts for the verb types imperfective, |
| Navajos refer to themselves as Navajo as | | | | perfective, progressive, future, usitative, |
| well, particularly when conversing in | | | | iterative, and optative. |
| English. | | | | |
| | | | Verbs can vary depending on the shape of the |
| To describe the whereabouts of the language | | | | subject; the verb for example for holding a |
| further, Navajo is spoken in the Four Corners | | | | ball is not the same as holding a twig. |
| states of Utah, Colorado, New Mexico, and | | | | |
| Arizona. It is a language widely spoken by | | | | The Navajo language is quite hard for |
| not only adults, but Navajo kids, too. | | | | non-natives to comprehend due to the exact |
| | | | manner in which subjects relate to each |
| More than fifty percent of Navajos speak it | | | | other. Such relationships could seem |
| in their homes. It is a language that is | | | | meaningless to foreigners, but are strikingly |
| actively passed onto offspring, and thus, the | | | | significant to a Navajo. |
| language is a form of daily communication for | | | | |
| the Navajos. | | | | They have a take on life that is very |
| | | | connected to a bigger world. Instead of |
| The Navajos of the past lived in domed earth | | | | saying, "I'm thirsty," a Navajo would say, |
| houses called hogans. The men hunted, | | | | "Thirst is hurting me". In this way, some |
| warred, and ruled, while the women farmed, | | | | say the language paints pictures in your |
| cared for the livestock, and performed | | | | mind. |
| domestic duties. | | | | |