Talk:Navajo

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[edit] Ethnic Slur

Navajo were referred to as "Head Breakers" by the neighboring Ute tribe because of the propensity of the the Navajo to use rocks to strike enemies during conflict. This derogitory ethnic slur was in common use by the Utes until modern times and living Utes have a common and consistant knowledge of the term "Head Breakers" as a denigrating reference to all Navajos. Regional white settlers used the term "Head Breakers" as well in distinguishing Navajos from other Native Americans, although it is now archaic among white regional populations.

I'm a long time New Mexico resident with much contact with the regional Native American tribes of New Mexico, Arizona, and Utah.

[edit] Pronunciation

The correct pronounciation is "tine" with "t" and not with "d". You should correct that. Adrian Macelaru, Bucharest, Romania

and how does someone from Romania know? the way it is now is correct.

He may be referring to the fact the Navajo/Dine (like Mandarin Chinese), has no unvoiced dental (e.g. "d" sound)--technically the "d" in Navajo is just an unaspirated "t". (See Navajo language.) --198.59.190.201 21:53, 16 September 2006 (UTC)

Nevertheless, the pronounciation sounds more like "Dine" than "Tine" (to my ears anyway). The common English rendering of the word is "Dine," so the spelling should not be changed. LotR 13:00, 18 September 2006 (UTC)

The original comment did not dispute the spelling of Diné but questioned its pronunciation by suggesting that "dɪnɛ" should be "tɪnɛ". I am unfamiliar with the International Phonetic Alphabet so I can only assume that "t" is the correct IPA sound representation for the Navajo "d" as stated on the current Navajo language Wikipedia page. Although, I must say, my confidence in this is shaken a bit by "b[p]" being listed on the chart since it is known that the Navajo language lacks the p sound.

Aside from that, I believe the pronunciation key should remain "dɪnɛ" since the d is indeed pronounced as the d in dig. None of the Navajo language courses I've ever taken has so much as suggested that a Navajo d sounded like anything other than an English d. Asdzani Bah 23:08, 5 February 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Question

Under the "name" section in the USA article, it states that the Najavo (Dine) name for the US is Wááshindoon bikéyah ałhidadiidzooígíí. Does anyone who speaks Navajo have any information about the literal meaning of the words and the name's origins and implications? Thanks so much! --198.59.190.201 21:16, 10 September 2006 (UTC)

Answer

(1) Wááshindoon = Washington D.C.

(2) bikéyah = land (literally "his/her family area")

(3) ałhidadiidzoo = physically grouped or clustered together

(4) ígíí = "the one that is ---"

Parts 1, 2 and 4 are simple and can be checked with a basic Navajo dictionary or Navajo language text book. A person who is fluent in Navajo gave me part 3 and its verification might require the more elaborate Navajo dictionary by Morgan & Young. Note: I am NOT fluent in Navajo. Do not ask me to translate anything. Asdzani Bah 21:18, 8 February 2007 (UTC)