Navajo Language and Clan System
Yesterday evening after a dinner
of mutton stew and fry bread we received a presentation on Navajo
language and the clan system present by Mrs. Kenesley who is a Navajo
language teacher at Dine College. The Navajo are proud of their complex
language and are currently working to make sure it stays alive by
teaching it in the schools. The language has 36 letters and 48 different
vowel sounds which makes reading and speaking the language very
difficult. The language is very precise so they were taught to be very
careful with what they say especially because there is no word for
sorry. The language is so complex it was used as a weapon in World War
II when the Navajo Codetalkers created an unbreakable code used to
communicate within the army.
The first things the Navajo say when they introduce themselves are
their four clans. Their last name is not considered to be important.
Rather your four clans form your identity. They inherit their clan from
their mother but also share the clan they are "born for" which is their
father's clan and then the clans of the mother's father and their
father's father. They are not allowed to marry into their first two
clans and probably not the last two either because everyone in those
clans are considered relatives. The clan system can be used to make
connections and find relatives in new places immediately. Almost
everyone is somehow related which helped reduce infighting among the
Navajo. Each clan also has associated characteristics. For example, the
Many Goats Clan is known for their hospitality and the Towering House
Clan is known for it's leadership. This is a very complex system that is
probably fully understood by the Navajo themselves and we are hoping to
learn more about it throughout the week.
Callie and Daisy
No comments:
Post a Comment