Education

New media for Diné

Translators help develop language-learning software

By Chee Brossy
Navajo Times

WINDOW ROCK, Dec. 6

A panel of Navajo translators and linguists converged on Window Rock last weekend to begin a project to develop new Navajo language learning software.

Rosetta Stone Ltd., based in Harrisonburg, Va., produces language-learning software in 30 languages. The company takes its name from an ancient stone artifact that provided the key for modern people to understand Egyptian hieroglyphics.

Rosetta Stone does not use English translation at all but instead uses visual images to convey the word or phrase being taught.

The Navajo software is being developed through the company's "endangered languages program," which means it will be owned by the sponsor organization and will be used as the tribe sees fit, said Marion Bittinger, manager of Rosetta Stone's endangered language program.

Though the software will be modeled on the company's popular language-learning program, it will not be part of the commercial line of products, which typically run about $200 for the entry-level CD.

Navajo Language Renaissance, a nonprofit organization based in Cornville, Ariz., organized the collaboration with Rosetta Stone and recruited seven Navajo language instructors to provide the translations. The Department of Diné Education is also participating and the project is endorsed by the Navajo Nation Board of Education.

Clayton Long, president of NLR, directs bilingual education for the San Juan school district in San Juan County, Utah. He has taught Navajo language courses in high school and also developed a Navajo online course for students living off the reservation.

Long said the new Rosetta Stone software will "probably take precedence" over what he developed because of the number of Navajo translators collaborating on it, coupled with Rosetta Stone's unique "dynamic immersion" method of teaching language.

Besides Long, the translators involved in the project are Lucille Hunt, who writes and translates children's stories in Navajo; Navajo linguist Ellavina Perkins; Don Mose, Navajo languge curriculum specialist at the San Juan school district; Polly Bitsui, who teaches Navajo language in the Tsaile, Ariz., public schools; Jacqueline Jones, a technology specialist at IHS; and Lorraine Monavi, Navajo language instructor at San Juan College in Farmington. All are native speakers.

The software program will not take the place of Navajo language teachers in reservation schools, Long added, but will provide a valuable supplement to existing courses.

Most Rosetta Stone programs offer three levels of instruction, from the basics of a language to advanced conversation. The group hopes to have level one of Rosetta Stone Navajo ready by the end of 2008.

Level one is divided into four units: language basics, greetings and introductions, work and school, and shopping.

Each translator will take a section, providing words and phrases for the images that appear. They'll get together periodically to discuss their results and edit their work.

When the group met Nov. 30 in the Navajo Nation Museum computer lab to see Rosetta Stone software in action, Navajo language was the dominant mode of communication as the translators talked amongst themselves.

The only non-Navajos in the room were Bittinger and Betsy Cook, a board member with Navajo Language Renaissance.

Bittinger presented tips on how to navigate instances when direct translation won't work, which requires "creative translation."

Mose, who has created bilingual versions of Navajo coyote tales for print and video animation, said the Rosetta Stone software is a much needed addition to the tools for teaching Navajo language.

"The whole idea is to use new media," Mose said. "The kids are glued to computers today - why not fuse language and technology to help them learn their culture?"

"There are many good Navajo teachers out there, I know that," he said, "but we've been using old materials because there's nothing available that uses the current technology"

Mose's first language is Navajo, but he learned English in boarding school and would like to see all Navajo youth be bilingual.

"Why not be a doctor or lawyer and know the Navajo language as well?" he said. "You have every right to have both, and I'll think you'll be better off."

Perkins, his colleague in the project, said the translations will be done with the utmost care.

"As a linguist I want to make sure we use the right terms," said Perkins, who holds a Ph.D. in linguistics from the University of Arizona.

Through its endangered language program, Rosetta Stone subsidizes the cost of producing the software. The applicant is asked to contribute 10 percent of the cost, which runs about $200,000.

NLR's Cook noted that the idea to contact Rosetta Stone on a language collaboration first became serious three years ago. Finally in January of 2006 the agreement became official.

The Navajo language application was one of two proposals picked from 20 applicants, and NLR is the most recent of five Native American groups to collaborate with Rosetta Stone.

The Mohawk, Inupiat and Inuttitut tribes have all created level 1 courses in their respective languages. The Chitimacha tribe of Louisiana is also producing a level 1 course at this time.

No release date has been set for the Rosetta Stone-Navajo level 1 CD, and distribution details are yet to be worked out. The CDs will be available to Navajo individuals for a fee, and NLR is hoping the Department of Diné Education will handle distribution of the program.

But Cook noted that it is not certain the collaboration will continue beyond the level 1 program because much depends on funding. Rosetta Stone may extend its grant for level 2, but production of level 3 will not be subsidized so the nonprofit needs to come up with another source of money.

In addition, Cook said, the subsidy does not include paying the translators for their work. Currently all are volunteering their time and must also pay their own travel costs to meetings.

Money for such projects is supposed to be available under the federal Esther Martinez Native American Languages Preservation Act of 2006, but Congress has not appropriated any because of disagreement between the House and Senate over the amount.

"We really need help," Cook said. "Right now everyone is going into their own pockets."

Donations are tax-deductible and can be sent to Navajo Language Renaissance, P.O. Box 1111, Cornville, AZ 86325.