Weather Report in the Navajo Language

This Weather Report was given by Paul Jones, and is aired throughout the day on KTNN AM 660. This particular report was given on February 17, 2009 at 7:30 AM in the morning. This video is meant to provide a sample of the Navajo language, and also to provide context for weather terms such as clouds, temperature, rain, snow, wind, etc. The english translation provided is a broad translation, since Navajo is such a detailed language that more is said than is translated into English.

This video also gives the Navajo names to various places in the Navajo Reservation. Numbers & percentage terms are also used.

KTNN is a radio station that broadcasts onto the Navajo Indian Reservation, on the AM 660 dial. It can also be heard on the internet at http://www.ktnnonline.com .The languages spoken are Navajo & English.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Native
• American
• Indian
• indigenous
• Dineh
• Dine
• Diné
• language
• culture
• tradition
• speech
• linguistic
• Navaho
• Athabaskan
• land
• regional
• area
• town
• names
• Shiprock
• Farmington
• Bloomfield
• Gallup
• Grants
• Chichiltah
• New
• Mexico
• NM
• Arizona
• AZ
• Black
• Mesa
• Shonto
• Kaibito
• Tuba
• City
• Gray
• Keams
• Low
• Mountain
• Pinion
• Hard
• Rock
• Dilcon
• Teestoh
• White
• Cone
• Hopi
• villages
• Chinle
• Canyon
• De
• Chelly
• Del
• Muerto
• Many
• Farms
• Kayenta
• Lukachukai
• Tsaile
• Wheatfields
• Ganado
• Fort
• Defiance
• Window

[Monetvalley]

Wow.. that was a tongue twister! I understood everything... but I could never translate that fast, let alone read word for word at the speed he was talking!

[wobeck]

Diné bizaad yidéés tsʼį́į́ł jinzingoʼ éí KTNN 660 am radiodę́ę́łá báyaʼiiʼáh (can listen online to ktnnonline)

[wobeck]

@squizz222 You are probably thinking that the Navajo text and the English text are exactly equivalent. They're not. The Navajo is saying much more than the English is. The Navajo is describing physical properties, motions, qualities and quantities that are almost impossible to express in English. English is like a thin watery soup, a broth. Navajo is like a rich, thick soup or stew. In equal amounts, the Navajo carries so much more.

[squizz222]

@wobeck That seems like it would make Navajo less wordy, since entire complex sentences in English can be conveyed in a single word.

[wobeck]

@squizz222 For example, the verb adisbąąs means "I am starting to drive a wheeled vehicle along". Di'nisbąąs means "I am driving a wheeled vehicle into something and getting stuck". Di'nisbąąs is made up of numerous parts, namely: a-di-ni-sh-ł-bąąs, and each little part carries a lot of meaning. The last part, -bąąs, is the verb stem, and it alone means "to go by rolling on wheels". Other stems that mean "go" include: -lwoł (to go at a run); -ldlosh (to go at a trot); -gááł (to go at a walk)...

[squizz222]

Why _are_ the Navajo sentences so wordy compared to their English translations? I'm just wondering. I know one user already said it's because the words are more detailed, but could you be more specific? What exactly are some of the differences?

[oyasuminasaix]

Wow, that is a LOT of accents!

[snajja]

This video is amazing. I can't stop listening to it. Such a unique sound. Does seem a bit Asian, but also a little Welsh. The people who are doing the report are so lucky to be able to speak like that!

[Zeev]

@navajoboy120

?

[navajoboy120]

@Zeev fuck up

[Spieldamelenium]

@daybreakwarrior thats really awesome I think.

[Spieldamelenium]

o.o) I wish they had shorter words for numbers this will take a while to learn.