Navajo edit

Etymology edit

na- (atelic, circuital) + -z- (si-perfective 3rd person subject prefix) + -∅- (classifier)-jaaʼ (neuter perfective stem of root -JAAʼ, “to handle a profusion of objects”).

Verb edit

naazhjaaʼ

  1. they lie around somewhere, are located somewhere (groups of profusion of small, visually difficult to count objects as sand, seeds or pebbles)

Usage notes edit

This verb is limited to expression in the third person and refers to multiple groups of small items. Also occurs with distributive da- as ndaazhjaaʼ, referring to a greater plurality of groups.

For a single group, use the verb shijaaʼ.

This is a neuter verb that uses only the perfective stem.

Conjugation edit

Paradigm: Neuter perfective (si), third person only.

PERFECTIVE singular plural dist. plural
3rd person (shijaaʼ) naazhjaaʼ ndaazhjaaʼ

Related terms edit

See also edit

Navajo Classificatory Themes Plural objects lie around
(Handle stem)
Class Examples Handle Propel Moves
SRO generic -ʼĄ́ -NEʼ l-TSʼID naazʼą́
SFO rope; pairs; unknown;
conglomerate
-LÁ ł / ∅ -DÉÉL naazlá
FFO sheet, paper ł-TSOOZ -ʼAH -NAʼ naastsooz
SSO stick, pole -TĄ́ ł-TʼEʼ -KĘ́Ę́Z naaztą́
AnO animate, doll ł-TĮ́ -GOʼ -TŁIZH naaztį́
NCM wig, hay; fog ł / ł / ∅ -JOOL naazhjool
MM butter; frog -TŁÉÉʼ ł-YĘ́Ę́ZH naaztłééʼ
LPB load, burden -YĮ́ naazyį́
PlO1 severality -NIL ni-∅ -DEEʼ naaznil
PlO2 profusion -JAAʼ ł-KAAD -KAAD   naazhjaaʼ
OC severality/profusion
in a container
-KĄ́ ł-DÁÁZ naazką́
Flat toppled wall,
blanket, bushes
naazkaad
Bulk boulder ł-ZHÓÓD l-ZHÓÓD naazhóód
Stream liquid, sand, dust -ZIID naaziid
Navajo Positional Themes Plural objects in position
(Intrans. Neuter)
Position Number of
participants
Intransitive Transitive Root
Active Neuter Active Neuter
LIE 1 ni-∅- ∅- ni-ł- ł- -TĮ́ naaztį́
2 -TÉÉZH naazhtéézh
3+ -JÉÉʼ naazhjééʼ
SIT 1 ni-∅- ∅- ni-ł- ł- -DÁ naazdá
2 -KÉ naazké
3+ dini-∅ hí-(-TĄ́) dini-ł -BIN naháaztą́
STAND 1 ni-∅- ∅- ni-ł- ł- -ZĮʼ naazį́