Selected Ph.D. dissertations & Master’s theses written by UNM graduates that focus on Navajo language and linguistics.

Ph.D. Dissertations

Linguistics

• Kari, James M. 1973. Navajo Verb Prefix Phonology. Albuquerque: University of New Mexico. (Ph.D. Dissertation.) (https://search.proquest.com/docview/302681058/citation/770A77C371AD4204PQ/1)
• Hardy, Frank W. 1979. Navajo Aspectual Verb Stem Variation. Albuquerque: University of New Mexico. (Ph.D. Dissertation.) (https://search.proquest.com/docview/302935154/citation/770A77C371AD4204PQ/9)
• McLaughlin, Daniel Jay. 1987. When literacy empowers: An ethnography of English and Navajo literacy. Albuquerque: University of New Mexico. (Ph.D. Dissertation.) (http://search.proquest.com/docview/303488038/abstract/EBE2C05DF40467APQ/1)
• Midgette, Sarah Driver. 1987. The Navajo progressive in discourse context: A study in temporal semantics. Albuquerque: University of New Mexico. (Ph.D. Dissertation.) (http://search.proquest.com/docview/303603152/abstract/4C4D148AFF8E4A6FPQ/1)
• Slate, Clay. 1989. Navajo verb theme categories and a Navajo lexicon database. Albuquerque: University of New Mexico. (Ph.D. Dissertation.) (https://search.proquest.com/docview/303783379/abstract/770A77C371AD4204PQ/3)
• Williams, Jay Scott. 2009. An intermediate grammar of Navajo: A guide for bilingual educators. Albuquerque: University of New Mexico. (Ph.D. Dissertation.) (http://search.proquest.com/docview/304949763/abstract/18260397F0A040F3PQ/44)
• Kiser, Michele. 2014. Analyzing Navajo Discourse: Investigating Form and Function of Intonational Units in Referential Discourse. Albuquerque: University of New Mexico. (Ph.D. Dissertation.) (https://digitalrepository.unm.edu/ling_etds/22)
• Chee, Melvatha. 2017. A Longitudinal Cross-sectional Study on the Acquisition of Navajo Verbs in Children Aged 4 years 7 months Through 11 Years 2 Months. Albuquerque: University of New Mexico. (Ph.D. Dissertation.) (https://digitalrepository.unm.edu/ling_etds/52)

Anthropology

• Neundorf, Alice. 1987. Bilingualism: a bridge to power for interpreters and leaders in the Navajo Tribal Council. Albuquerque: University of New Mexico. (Ph.D. Dissertation.)
• Peery, Char. 2015. New Deal Navajo Linguistics and Language Documentation. Albuquerque: University of New Mexico. (Ph.D. Dissertation.) (https://digitalrepository.unm.edu/anth_etds/50)

Education

• Perinpanayagam, Gnaneswaran Thiruraj. 1973. Towards Becoming Bilingual–Cognitive and Semantic Considerations in Language Acquisition. Albuquerque: University of New Mexico. (Ph.D. Dissertation.) (http://search.proquest.com/docview/288071369/citation/24E08F8830684CA6PQ/1)
• Bailey, Virginia Hurt. 1994. Identifying cues to cultural filters in symbolic behaviors and pragmatic language of Navajo children. Albuquerque: University of New Mexico. (Ph.D. Dissertation.) (http://search.proquest.com/docview/304138537/abstract/451B7BB8A4043EAPQ/1)
• Vining, Christine B. 2016. Socializing English-Speaking Navajo Children. Albuquerque: University of New Mexico. (Ph.D. Dissertation.) (https://digitalrepository.unm.edu/educ_spcd_etds/15)

Communication

• Belone, Lorenda. 2010. An examination of communicative dialectical tensions and paradoxes encountered by Native American researchers in the field and in the academy. Albuquerque: University of New Mexico. (Ph.D. Dissertation.) (https://digitalrepository.unm.edu/cj_etds/16)

Literacy and Orthography

• Holm, Wayne Stanley. 1972. Some Aspects of Navajo Orthography. Albuquerque: University of New Mexico. (Ph.D. Dissertation.) (http://search.proquest.com/docview/302683940/citation/1D64C6C0B0CB4B5APQ/1)
• Scoon, Annabelle. 1974. The Feasibility of Test Translation — English to Navajo. Albuquerque: University of New Mexico. (Ph.D. Dissertation.) (https://digitalrepository.unm.edu/educ_llss_etds/118)

M.A. Theses

Linguistics

• Chee, Melvatha R. 2007. The acquisition of Navajo verbs. Albuquerque: University of New Mexico. (M.A. Thesis.)
• Drinkwater, Michael. 2019. He Spoke, I Spoke: A Usage-Based Examination of Homophony in the Navajo Verb Complex. Albuquerque: University of New Mexico. (M.A. Thesis.) (https://digitalrepository.unm.edu/ling_etds/66)