Diné Language Program at The University of New Mexico

Language: Diné (Navajo)

Program Base: University of New Mexico in Albuquerque, New Mexico

Goals:

1. To develop oral and literacy skills in Navajo.
2. To develop understanding of Navajo culture.
3. To integrate Navajo culture in programs of other university units.
4. To fulfill the language requirement and general education breadth.

Brief Description:
The Diné (Navajo) Language Program at the University of New Mexico provides two years (four semesters) of basic language course work and more advanced courses for adults, who do not have to be Navajo or American Indian to participate. The program, which began in 1969, was developed by a team of two linguists, a graduate student, and three native-speaking students. This team developed materials and lesson plans over the course of four semesters.

Students and faculty in the UNM program also have worked to maintain or preserve Native American languages in New Mexico and elsewhere by assisting members of the Jicarilla Apache, Mescalero Apache, and other tribes in language description, sociolinguistic assessment, teacher training, and materials development. This work is offered at the university campus, a tribal facility, or community settings. Experimental dictionary work is featured on the program's web site.

Materials: Navajo books, audiotapes, and filmstrips.

Support:
The source of funds for the Diné Language Program was not given, but the language maintenance work with tribes was funded by The University of New Mexico. Funding in the past came from Title VII, BIA, Johnson O'Malley, American Indian organizations, and specific tribes being served.

Other types of support, now and in the past, for the Diné language program came from Native language speakers, volunteers, and a linguist or university linguistics department. For the language maintenance work, support has come from tribal government leaders, tribal language or culture committees, fluent Native language speakers, and a linguist or university linguistics department. In the past, this work also involved collaboration with a school.

Contact Information:
Garland D. Bills, Department Chair
University of New Mexico
Department of Linguistics
Humanities, Room 526
Albuquerque, NM 87131-1196
http://www.unm.edu/~linguist/
gbills@unm.edu
(505) 277-6353 / Fax: (505) 277-6355

Melissa Axelrod, Assistant Professor
University of New Mexico
Department of Linguistics
Humanities, Room 526
Albuquerque, NM 87131-1196
http://www.unm.edu/~linguist/
(505) 277-6353 / Fax: (505) 277-6355

Roseann Willink, Diné Instructor
University of New Mexico
Department of Linguistics
Humanities, Room 526
Albuquerque, NM 87131-1196
http://www.unm.edu/~linguist/
(505) 277-6353 / Fax: (505) 277-6355