Navajo and English/Lexical selection

Example 1: tłʼééʼ

Navajo Sentence	English Translation
Díí tłʼééʼ neeznáájiʼ ííníshtaʼ.	Tonight I am in class up till ten..
Áko tłʼééʼ hazlį́į́ʼ áádóó jį́ hazlį́įʼjįʼ áłtsé łaʼa jį́ azlį́į́ʼ.	And there was evening and there was morning, one day.

• Again -> na liwat
• Rather [adj.] -> liwat
• Just because [so–and–so]/is the case [predicate] happens -> bákay kay...liwat
• However, on the other hand -> liwat
• [Particle dismissing something as not worth worrying about: ‘anyway’] -> liwat

Example 2: naaltsoos

Navajo Sentence	English Translation
Shiyázhí, nízhiʼ naaltsoos bikááʼ íníleeh.	My child, write your name on the paper. .
Shiyázhí, naaltsoos wóltaʼí naadiin góneʼ nihá yíníłtaʼ.	My child read page 20 in the textbook.

• Since, because -> Man
• [Particle used when the speaker is pointing out something] -> Man
• [Particle used on discovering something: ‘oh yes, I see] -> Man ngayqan

Example 3:

Navajo Sentence	English Translation
?	.
.	.

• On, at [with days of the week] -> Han
• At, on [past time] -> Han