How to Use Young and Morgan’s

Abstract

Young and Morgan’s The Navajo Language is a comprehensive and multifaceted work of considerable significance to scholars and students of Navajo and Athabaskan alike, as well as researchers in the language sciences. We have only begun to understand and appreciate its value and scope beyond its important role in documenting the Navajo language. However, despite its being well-organized and intuitive, the volume is quite dense and not well laid out visually. Unless one is familiar with its structure and assumptions, its density can make it difficult to use. This chapter is intended as a tutorial on the 1987 version of The Navajo Language, and is best used with a copy of the 1987 edition in hand. I have included a tutorial chapter because of the significance of The Navajo Language to the study of Athabaskan in general and to this monograph in particular.