Image

Melvatha R. Chee
Associate Professor
Department of Linguistics
University of New Mexico

 

ENR2 Building, Room S107
Zoom: https://arizona.zoom.us/j/86179253808

 

Ałch’į’ Silá: Our Way of Knowing and Being is Reflected in Our Language

The way the Diné (Navajo) organize their environment is reflected in the structure of the Diné verb word, demonstrating the impact of sociocultural influences on language. Functional and cognitive approaches to linguistics accentuate the connection between traditional knowledge and linguistic framework. Diné Bizaad (Navajo language) is tightly interwoven with the Diné way of knowing and being. An advantage of being a Diné-speaking linguist is recognizing how Diné traditions are embedded in the language. Foundational to the Diné mind is Ałch’į’ Silá (paired  entities facing each other), the concept of dyads to represent balance and to achieve harmony. Examples of Ałch’į’ Silá appear in prayers and songs. Dyads such as Náhasdzaan Shimá (Mother Earth) and Yádiłhił Shitaa’ (Father Sky) form Ałch’į’ Silá between which life is sustained. Ałch’į’ Silá is also applied to the organization of the land formations on Diné Bikéyah (Navajo land), the hooghan nimází (traditional hogan), to the human body, and so much more. Dyads of cultural entities are repeated and patterns are created out of Ałch’į’ Sila, a binary unit that forms large organizations of language and thought. The term iinádídzaa (the formation of life) is introduced to describe the formation of a single unit out of binary elements that then becomes comprehensible, such as the bare verb stem produced by Diné children at the earliest stage. 

Dr. Chee proposes that Diné verbs are formed and organized according to Ałch’į’ Silá. Her talk will focus on examples from Diné child language to explain how the iinádídzaa process is applied. Iinádídzaa provides a traditional explanation of the study of Diné verbs. The application of Indigenous frameworks connects community to research, inspiring them to learn that their language contains knowledge.