Our Mission
Our mission is to provide quality instruction of the Navajo Language and to pursue Navajo Linguistics.
Our Vision
The Navajo Language Program is devoted to providing instruction that focuses on sustaining and promoting the use of Diné Bizaad. We promote the incorporation of culture into our language instruction, as culture contains a knowledge system and values unique to the Diné identity and is necessary for understanding language usage. We nurture the diversity of knowledge dissemination at the University of New Mexico.
Our Goals
The goals of our program are strongly related to the Diné culture and community, language revitalization, and language study. They can all be defined using the following Navajo terms.
Ya’áti’
Produce conversational speakers of Navajo
Sa’ah Naagháí Bik’eh Hózhóón
Nahat’á — Preparation, ’Iiná — Implementation,
Siih hasin — Aspiration, Nitsáhákees — Consideration
Náásgóó
Sustain the Navajo language to ensure its continued vitality
’É’ool’įįł
Incorporate culture into the system of Navajo linguistic knowledge
Na’alkaah
Study the structure of the Navajo language through data-driven research
Nihá
Produce language materials & research that benefit the Navajo community