Introduction to Navajo Adverbs

This lexicon is built on a list from Young & Morgan (1987:12-17). This list is a heterogeneous collection of expressions that certainly belong to more than one syntactic category. For instance, it includes time expressions like ’adą́ą́dą́ą́’ (‘yesterday’) and ’ałní’ní’ą́ (‘at noon’), but it also includes the negative frame doo…da and several expressions that are constructed with it, and it includes various particles that tend to appear before the verb (e.g., hah ’quickly’; dah ‘up’). These appear in various places within a clause. Oddly, ńt’éé (a particle denoting past time which is placed after the verb) is in the list, but dooleeł (a particle denoting future time which appears in the same position) is not in the list.

We constructed this tool using Young & Morgan’s list without making adjustments to it. There may be a future version that includes different selections.

Ła’ ha’nitáhígíí ’éí biihidzóhí 50 entries

’Adą́ą́dą́ą́’ shá bíighah ’atah ’adishdiłgo ’i’íí’ą́.

yesterday 1-for 3-passing down 1-play.stick.dice.RI-GO evening

’Asdzą́ą́ Báhóózhóní yinishyée dooleeł.

woman happy 1-called.NI future

’Áádę́ę́’ nánísdzáago łį́į́’ ni’deeshjoł.

from.there 1-return.p-GO horse 3-for pl-1-feed.F

-ch’ą́ą́h

Béégashii yáázh ła’ shibee’í’diidłííd bik’i niní’ą́.

calf one 1-cattle.brand 3-on 3-1-put.NP

bik’ídadidiidis

pl-3DO-1dpl-wrap.it.around.it.F

Bįįh bináyaa niłchiin ’éí hataałii chodayooł’į́.

deer 3-eye beneath matter that medicineman 3-3 use.I

Ch’ah ’éí doodaii’ nák’ee sinilí łizhinígíí daats’í nee hólǫ́’?

hat or sunglasses perhaps 2-with 4-exist.NI

Ch’ah ’éí doodaii’ nák’ee sinilí łizhinígíí daats’í nee hólǫ́’?

hat or sunglasses perhaps 2-with 4-exist.NI

Chidíísh bee hólǫ́ doodaii’ ni daats’í chidí nee hólǫ́?

car-Q 3-with 4-exist.NI or 2 maybe car 2-with 4-exist.NI

dadidíníilkał

pl-3DO-1dpl-start.to.herd.them.(animals).F

daoohdlą́ą́’

pl-3DO-2dpl-drink.it.P

daołbéézh

pl-3DO-2dpl-boil.it.I

dayííshóó’

pl-3DO-3dpl-brush/comb.it.P

deididínóołkał

pl-3DO-3dpl-start.to.herd.them.(animals).F

deiilyį́į́h

pl-3DO-1dpl-melt.it.(snow).I

Dibé tóógóó neeshkał.

sheep water-toward 3-1-herd.Prog

diididoołjah

3DO-3-start.fire.F

diidį́į́ł

3DO-1dpl-eat.it.F

diilyį́į́’

3DO-1dpl-melt.it.P

Doo łá’í ndi naash’áa da.

NEG one but 3-1-hold.SRO.CI NEG

dííłbish

3DO-2-boil.it.F

Ha’át’éego lá ’íiyisíí ’atiinjį’ ’ańdeeshdááł lá?

how Q main road-up.to 1-back-on-go.F DISC

Ha’át’íí biniiyé shą́ą́h ńdídááh?

what 3-because 1-passing.by 2-go.I

hadaołgéésh

pl-3DO-2dpl-cut.it.out.I

Hak’az bik’ee shíchį́į́h doo ’áháłchįįh da.

hanii

haoołgizh

3DO-2dpl-cut.it.out.P

Hatáálgóó déyáago shikélchí t’óó tsxį́į́łgo bił ’ada’shéshiizhgo ńdaséłkad.

ceremony-1-go-Fut-GO 1-moccasin merelyhurry.GO 3-with 3-1-pierce-GO 3-1-sew-P

háajį’

Háágóósh díníyá?

where-to-Q 2-go.I

Háidíígíí lá neidiyoołnih?

which.one-ÍGÍÍ Q 3-3-buy.F

Jáanísh naalnish?

John-Q 3-work.I

jitł’ó

3DO-4-weave.it.I

Kin Łánídiísh ’éí doodago Bee’eldííldahsinildi daats’í naniná?

Flagstaff-at-Q TOP or Albuquerque-at perhaps 2-go.around.CI

lá

Mósí yázhí chizhtah yiyah yilwod.

kitten woodpile.among 3-under 3-run.P

na’ńle’dii

Naalyéhé bá hooghandi t’ah doo dá’deelkaałdą́ą́’ nisingo na’ńle’dii tsį́į́ł shiisxį́ (siisxį́).

trading.post-at just NEG 3-PASS-close.I-past 1-think.N-GO dismay speed 1-3-kill.P

nidasoołkáá’

pl-3DO-2dpl-investigate.it.P

Nihá naazíinii bił neikai.

our leaders 3-with 3pl-1pl-go.P

Nił bééhózinísh ’éí doodaii’ nicheii daats’í bił bééhózin?

2-with 3-know.CI-Q TOP or 2-grandfather perhaps 3-with 3-know.CI

Shá bíighah na’ashkǫ́ǫ́’go yiishjį́į́’ lá.

sun proportionate 1-swim.CI-GO 1-sun.burn.I DISC

Sháahsita’gi yihę́ęsgo tsin-ts’ósí bee yích’id.

1-point.between.shoulder.blades 3-itch.I-GO stick 3-with 3-1-scratch.P

Shicheii béeso bideená naalnish.

1-grandfather money 3-exchange.for 3-work.I

Shiyáázh nihił ’oołbąs dooleeł.

1-son 1pl-with 3-drive.Prog will.be

Shínaaí tł’éédą́ą́’ hááhgóóshį́į́ Bilagáanak’ehjí bitsąąh yáłti’.

1-brother night-last somehow English 3-sleep 3-talk.P

yiidą́ą́’

3DO-1dpl-eat.it.P

yiishjį́į́ł

1-become black, get sunburned.Prog

Yooch’ííd wolyéii doo bił bééhózin da.

lie 3-be.called.NI NEG 3-with 3-about.be.known.CI NEG