The Navajo Language: The Elements of Navajo Grammar with a Dictionary in Two Parts Containing Basic Vocabularies of Navajo and English (Navajo Language Dictionary)

This book seems to be very thorough and well organized. I have read through the introduction and it explains about half of what a person like me just starting to learn is curious about. It describes vowels in a way that is useful but I can’t really apply it the way a person that has a vast vocabulary in Navajo could. So often when someone talks lots of it is automatic or subconscious when the language is familiar. Not saying this is like baby talk but an infant starting to speak is different from an adult or young teen or child because then it’s a matter of being quiet or being loud. This is affected by moods when someone is calm or they get upset the words will be pushed from their lungs. In a regular flow of speech the mouth and teeth form words, in this book the intro explains it to be from the throat. That’s not necessary because actions like swallowing or gulping is a direct example of closing or opening the trachea it usually stays open so we can breath. I might be able to come back to this in a couple of years but I really need a book to demonstrate the position of the mouth lips and teeth because it’s simpler to remember.

A thorough book rich in vocabulary and instructional material. Works well as a companion to "A Vocabulary of Colloquial Navajo" by Robert W. Young. Where Spanish, French, German, and so many more languages have a plethora of resources for learning, the Navajo language (Dine) is sorely underrepresented in this arena. These books are the best we can find.

Love this book! I'm fluent in the Navajo language but this is for my grand children

I recently purchased the Rosetta Stone Navajo Language software and this book works great as and addition to that program. The vowels and consonants are explained on how they should be stated by telling you what words rhyme with how they should sound. Ahehee!!

This is the best Navajo language textbook. It includes a full grammatical outline and to dictionaries for learners. Would recommend

This is not a textbook that will help you independently learn Navajo (which was my goal). Rather, this seems to be geared towards people with significant exposure to the language who want to dig deeper into the grammar. For instance, this book does not even explain how to say "hello" in Navajo (though it does tell you how to say "I brought two deer home"... useful, right?).I am giving this two stars because it's probably useful for someone, but is not a proper book to learn the language. Also, the formatting is poor and feels very cheap. There are typos.

This books gives the reader an excellent first introduction into the structure, basic patterns and underlying "culture" of this highly complex language that follows totally different rules than English or French. I am an author who wrote articles and books about Navajo culture...I found the Young-book extremely helpful in my efforts to understand some of the Navajo healing chants.

book it self is damaged.