Navajo

NAV

threatened

Alternate Names: Navaho

Genealogy:

Eyak-Athabaskan
Athabaskan
Apachean

Demographics: 171,000 (2010 census). 7,600 monolinguals. Ethnic population: 266,000 (Ichihashi-Nakayama 2007).

Language Use: Vigorous in some families. L1 speakers among first graders are 30% versus 90% in 1968 (1998). Immersion program in several schools; formally taught at several universities (Golla 2007). Wide range of functions.

Language Development: High literacy. New media. Dictionary. Bible: 1985–2000.

Writing System: Latin

Nation of Origin: United States

Other Comments: Ethnonym: Diné, preferred.