The University of New Mexico |
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PRESS RELEASE
Contact: Carolyn Gonzales 277-5920
Oct. 3, 2005
UNM CELEBRATES 35 YEARS OF NAVAJO LANGUAGE INSTRUCTION
The Department of Linguistics celebrates the 35 th anniversary of Navajo/Diné language instruction at the University of New Mexico with a series of events beginning with an anniversary reception on Wednesday, Oct. 5 at 5:30 p.m. in the Hibben Center foyer.
UNM's program is oldest Navajo/Dine language program of any non-tribal university in the United States.
The event kicks off with the Basket Dance performed by the Dineh Tah' Navajo Dancers. Special guests include New Mexico Senator Leonard Tsosie and a representative from Senator Jeff Bingaman's office.
“We will recognize and acknowledge the contributions of those integral to the program over the past 35 years,” said Sherman Wilcox, chair of linguistics. Among those to be honored is Robert Young, who, with William Morgan, co-authored the Navajo dictionary. Awards named for both men will also be presented.
Festivities will resume on Wednesday, Oct. 19 when Sunny Dooley shares Navajo stories at 5:30 p.m. in Humanities 112. Crownpoint Navajo Weavers will be featured on Wednesday, Nov. 16 at 3 p.m. in Zimmerman Library's Willard Reading Room. The program concludes with Navajo Code Talkers on Wednesday, Dec. 7 at 5:30 p.m. in the Hibben Center foyer.
The Navajo program got its start in the Modern and Classical Languages Department in 1970, Wilcox said. “Bernard Spolsky, now at Bar-Ilan University in Israel got the program going,” he said.
In 1988, modern languages decided not to offer Navajo any more because the program couldn't maintain student numbers. At the same time, sign language moved out of communicative disorders. Both programs found a home in linguistics.
“Since the program moved into linguistics enrollment is up and a minor was established in Navajo language. We are beginning to get students from San Juan and Diné College who want to continue their language study here. We have two Navajo students in our master's program in linguistics,” Wilcox said.
Linguistics offers graduate courses in Navajo including a concentration in native languages of the Southwest.
All events are co-sponsored by the Alfonso Ortiz Center for Intercultural Studies and the Institute for American Indian Research. For more information, call Nancy Montoya at 277-6353.
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