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

’Ashkii yázhí éí bimá kingóó yił yi’ash.

boy little TOP 3-mother store-to 3-with 3-walk.du.Prog

’Áłtsé baa nitsídadiikos ’áko shį́į́ ’índa bik’i nidadii’nił.

first about 3-3.think.F then only 3-3pl.record.I

’Oółháásh lágo.

2-sleep.O don’t

-ąąh

-ídin

Ahwééh yishdlį́į́ ’áko ’índa ch’éénásdzíd.

coffee 3-1.drink.P when 3-1.wake.up.P

bik’ízhdeezdiz

3DO-4-wrap.it.around.it.P

ch’ínígóó

Chidí tááségis yę́ę ninááhodoołtį́į́ł daaní.

car 3-1-wash.P past-Q 3-again.rain.F pl-3-say.NI

Chizh ła’ ’ahidíłkaał ’áko ’índa nich’į’ n’deeshłééł.

firewood some 2-chop CONJ 2-to 1-pay.F

Da’ dichinísh nínízin?

Q hunger-Q 2-feel.NI

dazhdoołbish

pl-3DO-4dpl-boil.it.F

deiyą́

pl-3DO-3dpl-eat.it.I

didołjeeh

3DO-2dpl-start.fire.I

didííłjéé’

3DO-1-start.fire.P

diididoołjah

3DO-3-start.fire.F

Díí dziłígíí shádi’ááh bich’ijígo ’ałkéé’ ’adíítąąd.

this mountain-Comp southward 3-toward-GO one-behind-another 3Pl-scatter.NP

Díí łééchąą’í dah doosłóós laanaa.

this dog 1-lead.O.ADV-laanaa optative particle for a positive wish, hope or desire.

Doo choshijooł’į́į́’ le’ ’át’éégóó sh hóyéé’.

NEG 3-1-make.use.O proof.against-NEG 1-with lazy.NI

Doo t’áá k’ad chidí na’ní’ą́ą da.

NEG just now vehicle 2-3-1-lend.P NEG

Dził bit’ááhgi bįįh halzheeh.

Mountain 3-close.to-at deer 3-3-hunting.CI

Gohwééh haa néeląą’ nee hólǫ́?

coffee how 3-much.N 2-with 4-exist.NI

Gohwééh t’áá bizhání ’éí doodaii’ ’abe’ bgo daats’í nínízin?

coffee only TOP or milk 3-with-GO perhaps 3-2-want.NI

Ha’át’éegoshą’ t’áadoo ’azee’ál’į́į́góó nisíníyáa da?

why-Q NEG hospital-to 2-go.sg.P NEG

Ha’át’éegoshą’ t’áadoo díníyáa da?

why-Q neg 2-go.sg.P NEG

Haa níníłnééz?

what 2-tall.relatively.NI

hadajizgeed

pl-3DO-4dpl-dig.it.out.P

hadeidoołtééł

pl-3DO-3dpl-carry.him/her.up.out.of.something.F

hadííłtééł

3DO-2-carry.him/her.up.out.of.something.F

haoogeed

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

Háadi lá ’ádeiit’į́?

where-at Q pl-3-be

Háágóó shą’ díníyá?

where-to.Q 2-go.F

hágoónee’

Háidíígíí lá neidiyoołnih?

which.one-ÍGÍÍ DISC 3-3-buy.F

Mósí yázhí chizhtah yiyah yílwod.

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

nidasoolá

pl-3DO-2dpl-carry.a.ropelike.thing.around.P

Ńdíshchíí’ yáázhí bąąh hasis’na’go shił yaa ’ádzaa.

pine.tree little 3-on 1-climb.P-GO 1-with down 3-act.P

Ńléí ’asdzą́ą́ sáníshą’ háí ’át’į́?

there woman old-Q what 3-be.N

Ólta’di ndeii’néego ’ashkii ła’ kin bizánághahdę́ę́’ shich’į’ ch’élwodgo b ’ahídégoh.

school-at 1pl-play.I-GO boy some building-3-around-from 1-to out-3-run.P-GO 3-with 3-1-collide.P

Ronshą’ saadísh neiiłkaah?

Ron-Q word-Q 3-3-investigate.I

Shá bíighah tsiyaa sédáago, shinááł nida’jiłkǫ́ǫ́’.

sun proportionate tree-under 1-sit.SPN-GO 1-watch.CI pl-4-swim.P

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

Shą́ą́’ ’ałk’idą́ą́’ baa hwiinít’į́į ni’.

remember long.ago 3-for 3-discuss.I recall

Shich’ahashkéé léi’ doo bíká ’iishyeed da.

1-3-upset.I since NEG 3-for 1-help.I NEG

Shilééch’ąą’í bits’ąą ńdínésht’į́į́’.

1-dog 3-away.from 1-hide.P

Shilééchąą yázhí shikéé’ yildlosh ńt’éé’ hashtł’ish yiih yildloozh.

1-dog little 1-behind 3-walk.Prog past mud 3-into 3-walk.P

T’áá hooshch’į’ déshnish.

suddenly 1-start.work.P

Tsé nitsaa ’áko nidaaz.

stone 3-big CONJ 3-heavy

Yah ’anáníshkaad ’áko shį́į́ ’índa da’iidiilwosh.

into 1.herd.I until then only 1dpl.sleep.F

Łį́į́’ bik’i na’ashnííł.

horse 3-on 3-1-unsaddle.I