Article ID Journal Published Year Pages File Type
934892 Language & Communication 2009 19 Pages PDF
Abstract

This article describes aspects of Navajo sound symbolism within its social and political contexts. Specifically, it focuses on the use of Navajo ideophony. Examples of Navajo ideophony are presented from a variety of verbal and written genres including song, narrative, place-names, and contemporary written poetry. It is argued that Navajo ideophony is an important poetic device in Navajo aesthetics and that its current promotion in written poetry challenges a simple view of ideophony as fragile in the face of outside contact. Navajo ideophony also challenges a received Western linguistic ideology that devalues such expressive forms.

Related Topics
Social Sciences and Humanities Arts and Humanities Language and Linguistics
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