Conversational Navajo Dictionary: English to Navajo

Alternate Language Names

Navaho, Diné bizaad, Naabeehó bizaad.

Region

Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah, United States.

Who

Garth Wilson.

Others Involved

Deniane Gutke (Production Editor); Worthy Glover (Assistant Linguistical Editor); Dennis Gutke, Todd Moon (MAC Technical Assistance); Angie Wilson (Medical Consultant).

Publishing Information

The third edition of this dictionary was published in 1994 by the Conversational Navajo Publications, Blanding, Utah.

This dictionary was originally published in 1989, with a second edition published in 1990.

How People are Cited

Contributors to this dictionary are cited on the interior page of the dictionary’s cover, below Acknowledgements.

How Information is Cited

This dictionary does not cite the source of any of its information.

Where is Information Coming from

This dictionary does not indicate where information is coming from or what sources were used.

Tools and Framework used

This dictionary is available as a physical and digital book.

Access

The physical book is accessible through libraries, and it is available for purchase through Rio Nuevo Publishers for US$29.95. The digital book is open access through the Internet Archive (login with a free account is required to access the full book).

Included Languages and Directionality

English to Navajo.

Dialects Included

No dialect is specified for this dictionary.

Type of Dictionary

This is a bilingual, mono-directional dictionary, introduced by a thorough guide to the Navajo sound system and followed by an appendix of topical word lists.

How are Entries Organised

Entries are organized alphabetically by English. Entries include the English headword, the part of speech, the Navajo translation, and an example sentence in English followed by the Navajo translation.

Prior to the dictionary section, there is a thorough Pronunciation Guide.

Following the dictionary, there is an Appendix, which includes topical word lists. According to the author, “[The special topics appendix] is designed to be used as a quick reference guide for educators, counselors, and health care professionals” (Introduction). Therefore, topics include common phrases for the classroom, anatomical terms, and assessment phrases, as well as less specific topics such as kinship terms, foods, numeric terms, common greetings and farewells, vocabulary related to daily activities, and interrogatives.

Other Features

Other Notes

This dictionary is not exhaustive but includes everyday, conversational speech.

The earlier publications came with two cassette tapes to assist learners with pronunciation. The publication available for purchase through Rio Nuevo Publishers comes with three CDs (in lieu of cassettes). The digital version available through the Internet Archive does not have any audio available.