The world’s hardest language is NOT what you expect

This is a review of why Navajo is the world’s hardest language to learn, harder even than Chinese, Korean, or Arabic. (In my humble opinion as someone who has studied all of these languages.) The primary reason for this involves Navajo verb complexity: they change like a Rubik’s cube depending on 7 different modes, 12 aspects, and 10 sub-aspects, which mix and match to generate different forms like a giant times table. In addition, pronunciation is also extremely complex with rare sounds like ł, tones, and glottal stops!
Sources for this video include “The Navaho Language” by Young and Morgan, 1972, “An Introduction to Grammar for Language Learners” by Don Ringe, 2018, and Wikipedia.
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[@zachUK]

Totally makes sense that the US relied on Navajo 'code talkers' in World War II. The Japanese never had a chance - deciphering it was impossible.

[@Legionnaire7777]

The Brits did the same using Welsh and other gaelic Scots/Irish/Manx/ Cornish etc

[@karoniesthompson4355]

There were many different Native Tribes used for code talkers. Navajo code talkers are just the most famous. My grandfather was a Mohawk code talker in WW2

[@zachUK]

@@Legionnaire7777 I did not know that. Although presumably those were easier to decipher than Navajo?

[@karoniesthompson4355]

@@zachUK I’m not too sure why the Navajo code talkers are talked about more then the rest of them. It might have just been that they were the largest group maybe. Because I’ve been told that Iroquois languages are some of the hardest languages to learn in the world. I guess similar to Navajo

[@Legionnaire7777]

Actually just as hard due to the slight differences in dialect and due to different accents and speed they spoke the axis powers didn't have a clue what was being said.👍🏻

[@sipntea]

The Navajo language is so linguistically complex it really makes you think about how the language has evolved over time and why certain elements of the language exist in the first place.

[@janice7378]

God made humans to speak different languages after the situation that occurred in Babel

[@karatewithelian9014]

​@@janice7378 but did he allow THIS

[@darthvader4466]

@@janice7378 I taught God everything he knows

[@poloclubb]

@@janice7378 i love when ppl mistake fairytales for real life

[@user-bo3mp8un6c]

​@@janice7378You don't actually believe that do you?

[@kobechidester149]

I live an Utah and a friend of mine speaks fluent Navajo, it’s really incredible

[@BladeMK]

Same! Except I live in new mexico.

[@Birdnerd1968]

This is wonderful! I've read that Native American languages have been on the decline and are in danger of dying out. So hearing that people are carrying on the language is a great thing to hear.

[@alexandrahenderson4368]

@@Birdnerd1968 you'll hear that a lot... But they rarely tell you why... My great great grandma was alive until I was 7... She (if not hidden) would've probably died in a US residential school preventing many generations from being born

[@Birdnerd1968]

@@alexandrahenderson4368 my grandma (she was first generation American her parents were Irish) was born in the late 1800s and she saw a lot of what happened with way Native Americans were treated and she used to talk about how horrible it was. I think she also saw the "camp" areas where people were really being jailed and treated like criminals just for being NA. Now grandma was a horrible racist b word. She was Satan's younger sister. Seriously not a nice woman and thought the white race was the superior race and all that crap. I'm half Black and she would say to me I wasn't worth as much as my full white siblings and cousins. So the fact that she was outraged about the way Native Americans were treated made us realize it must have been really REALLY bad for her to be so angry and sympathetic towards the NAs at the way they were treated. And she was in New England, which wasn't as bad as it got going further west across the US.

[@user-sf9gs2pg1b]

That’s so cool. I always think the name of that language is dope.

[@dbackscott]

One of my prior roommates was part Navajo and grew up on the reservation in New Mexico. He said Navajo was so complex that he was able to understand others speaking it, but he was not able to say more than simple sentences himself.

[@Psilocybrina]

That's where im at with German right now. Everyone has an active vocabulary in languages that they speak, there are tons of German words I know but can't think of right now. That also applies for English, but it's definitely more profound with languages you're learning. But yeah.. Navajo is not easy

[@ColdStinko]

The funnt thing is the gutteral throat in german when pronunciating is sorta like some lakota and dakota languages its pretty fascinating ( or vice-versa? history is weird and a lot of its not really written down in books) Edit: just for context im from the rosebud lakota sioux tribe i may know a little but not a lot to understand everyone mainly cuz i put so much on my own plate to take the time of my own day.. thank you for taking the time out of your day to read this, whoever you are…

[@tabaldak5184]

I’m native and spent a good part of my younger years living in New Mexico I had many Navajo friends and unfortunately this is the reality of the times where in!

[@Tatokala]

​@@ColdStinkohey, Which guttural sound do you mean?

[@ColdStinko]

@@Tatokala like the sound you make when trying to hock a loogey

[@vegasjason7]

My grandpa was a white man raised on a Navajo reservation. He ended up being a codetalker in WW2. Was the only language the Japanese couldn't understand.

[@anthonydolce5401]

That’s amazing. Thank you for sharing!

[@babyjesuslovesme1219]

Wow!!!

[@TriniCrew]

And with all their contributions, they were still treated like shit in America

[@vineleak7676]

@@TriniCrew No they are not, nobody treats them like shit... Stop your marxist Fantasm

[@somenerdpng]

@@vineleak7676 “not treated like shit” did man not see slavery happen

[@Dahbz14]

“It sounds like theyre talking underwater” - Some poor Japanese soldier monitoring radio traffic in the pacific.

[@cezzy_1496]

Here, have a comment

[@MeanBeanComedy]

Poor bastard!

[@lindabooker3512]

Interesting!

[@muzankibutsuji8919]

Yea actually whenever you speak thst mar language you have to drown yourself beforehand so you can get it down perfectly

[@theribbonproject2124]

What poor? They abused the Chinese

[@hydro6en317]

as a Navajo speaker myself: you are never fully educated on Navajo/Diné language. there are words for everything that exist, including the little twinkling light you see on a dew drop. but the thing most people forget is that Navajo is a describing language. when you speak Navajo, you are either descrbing what you see, smell, taste, touch, or hear. that is why there are so many varients. the words he is speaking is the old language which exists in Arizona. there are 6 other dialects of Navajo: Northern (areas in Utah, Colorado, & parts of Northern New Mexico), Southern (near the the Southern Navajo Nation border & around Phoenix; it is known to have more Castillian Spanish than Navajo words), Checkerboard (New Mexico area), Ramah, Alamo, & Tohajilee. some are similar, while others are very different. this is why it is difficult to have a alphabet & proper grammar.

[@MZ-jn1xh]

Wow and I thought learning French was a little difficult! My husband's native language is tricky too. Fascinating and wonderful.

[@Wazkaty]

Thank you! It's amazing, I love that, nature is rich so it's absolutely logical to me

[@Yunyun_xp]

I heard some elders complain that down some southern parts of the rez it’s getting difficult to understand their own language bcuz some ’speak too fast the tongue can’t catch up to the mouth' 😂 Live in the utah area of the rez btw

[@fitashill]

Bro is about to get canceled over that cup of water😂

[@reptilesgamers00]

YEAH

[@samfisher1650]

I came here for this comment hahaha

[@kurotoruk]

depends on whether it's full or not.

[@caseykoll5750]

Lololol

[@jobebrian]

Why? This is a comment i want to understand!

[@wolfywox]

With a language structure like this, Navajo poems have to be absolutely beautiful.

[@kllause6681]

@@mozorellastick2583 Navajo is a native American tribe, but it is not solely "native American" as there are tens of hundreds of tribes all over the Americas that Look, dress, and talk completely different from each other.

[@mozorellastick2583]

@@kllause6681 yes definitely, but it is a part of Native American culture, I thought the language was possibly an Arabic language I was just surprised that it was Navajo. It's like how an Arabic culture can be Levantine or iraqi or Saudi but all fall under the broader cultural category of Arab. I know that Native American tribes are very diverse, in linguistics and in culture, but just meant to speak to the broader cultural classification of Native American

[@GldnClaw]

@@mozorellastick2583 Consider the Book of Mormon in this context. There's a possible connection that explains it.

[@beeppboopp]

​@@GldnClaw bro 😭 the book of Mormon is so anti-native and false that it's genuinely ridiculous lmao

[@maraphernalia]

@@GldnClaw bro shut up

[@eldritchteletubby9319]

"Although of course that would vary based on if the glass was full or not." Of course, naturally.

[@reginaldinoenchillada3513]

Half full or half empty?

[@Marika50]

Full of what?

[@GustavoSilva-ny8jc]

We gotta define the level of positivity 😂

[@GustavoSilva-ny8jc]

@@Marika50 that too, imagine if theres a version of "cup" for every liquid.

[@jadencleveland2735]

I’m Navajo, and I remember when I was a senior in HS they made us take a Navajo language test. The pronunciation part was easy but the conversational aspect was tough 😭

[@edithkyt]

How often do you use this language nowadays?

[@cafenightster4548]

@@edithkyt It's honest quite a bit, just find someone in there 30's and they'll most likely speak it. Quite a few people grew up only speaking Navajo. If you go out to a grocery store, you'll likely hear it spoken. A lot of people grew up with their grandparents and that was the only way to communicate with them.

[@CptCupcake5]

Your profile picture is terrifying haha

[@w花b]

@@CptCupcake5 k

[@jonahmiller5881]

Glad that your language is still being taught to the next generation, good to keep that alive 😊

[@learntoplaymagic5202]

I lived on the Navajo Reservation for 2 years and let me tell you something, listening to two people fluent in this language talk to one another was insane. That guy at the end was speaking REALLY slowly and being very careful to enunciate his words. Two people that speak fluently and know each other, it can sound like rapid fire gibberish to anyone who doesn't speak the language

[@StellarLimpkin]

Living there rn. Someday I might learn it.

[@mango-pn9kw]

Honestly I am learning the language and it's weird and yes that guy at the end was going slow and even as a learner I talk faster than that but not nearly as fast as a native

[@Taima]

@@mango-pn9kw I'm wondering if the dude at the end did it as a way to appeal to maybe younger members who aren't all in on the language but could maybe understand it slow enough? I could imagine a lot of young people who live on/around reservations and such being kinda disenchanted by the language if they weren't raised to speak it young enough because of how hard it is.

[@HAILProphecy__]

As a Navajo, at least you're trying to learn. Navajo language is slowly dying down.

[@June-tb4vi]

@@Jess-737 just the lazy new generation doesn't care??

[@hidden3235]

@@June-tb4vi well, kids are taught by their parents. if the language isnt being taught to newer generations, then thats the fault of their parents.

[@amjan]

@@Jess-737 Languages are never difficult for native speakers.

[@blah163]

​@@amjan Native languages are difficult for native speakers. Native fluency can take 20 years to learn. Mastery beyond that almost always requires formal study.

[@kbowzer3849]

@@June-tb4vi It's not that we don't care. If you met almost any navajo kid they could tell you about their culture for hours. The language itself is just hard to learn when you grow up speaking english.

[@Mel_Sharp]

I'm an RN. My first job was in a small, 24-bed hospital in Winslow, AZ. The hospital was the closest medical facility to the Navajo Nation, after which were Flagstaff, AZ and (if memory serves) Gallup, NM. About 80% of the patients in Winslow were Navajo, and of those, a fair number were elders who spoke no English. Most of the nursing assistants spoke Navajo, but if they were busy, or if there were no family member available, I would have to wait to do any assessments of my patients. I determined that it was to my advantage to learn enough Navajo to make my own job easier, which took a lot of work and practice. I pestered every Navajo speaker I encountered to help me learn phrases and proper pronunciation. Eventually I got to the point where I could complete a physical assessment without needing a translator. So phrases like "Take a deep breath", "Open your mouth", "Let me look in your ear", "Now the other ear." "Does this hurt?" and others finally stuck and always (I think) made my patients feel a little more comfortable. I usually ended with the question (in Navajo) "How many sheep does Grandma have?", which almost always made my patients laugh in surprise.

[@theapplebauce6254]

This is super amazing and beautiful that you took the time to go above and beyond to help your patients. As a native myself, thank you for caring for our elders and for making them feel safe. Healers are very important and sacred in society. God bless you, your family, and your work

[@MisterHowzat]

You are amazing and wonderful and make a great nurse. Please explain to me the grandma and sheep thing.

[@rhk199]

What's the grandma joke?, Didn't get it

[@edwardmacnab354]

Navajo is an interesting language that should have a complete study program established for it by the Navajo Nation , not just for Navajo but for anyone interested , like language enthusiasts , people studying native culture , and general linguists . It is extremely important that languages such as Navajo be preserved in their entirety .

[@princessthyemis]

Yeah! It sounds amazing!!!

[@valhatan3907]

Yeah, the language sounds interesting actually, even tho its hella complicated

[@AJ-zv9tn]

No it's dumb some things should just die off

[@thedeviouspanda]

There has been a huge effort to preserve this language and other native languages in the same region. Star Wars was even translated into Navajo. I was signed up to take a Navajo class at the community college but my schedule didn't allow it.

[@lulumoon6942]

It's a beautiful language.

[@billyyabeny546]

It's awesome that the Dine' language is getting the recognition it deserves 😊

[@AtarahDerek]

That one PBS cartoon has certainly been influential in that, I think. It has a periphery demographic that would be curious about these kinds of things.

[@samanthariecken5836]

it makes sense why the language is so intricate and precise, a lot of native nations including Navajo relied on storytelling to keep history, hence needing all of the specific details

[@gavinrolls1054]

but that's true for nearly every culture at some point but not every language is like this.

[@handlingitwell]

It is completely possible to be really specific even in languages that are not highly inflected. For example, in English, to distinguish between giving a flexible object and giving a cup of water, one can simply just *describe the object*.

[@doppleganger7591]

@@handlingitwellbut think about how time consuming that is compared to just having a particular word for something. I’ve always thought the same about Chinese writing, seems pretty efficient

[@handlingitwell]

@@doppleganger7591 As a Chinese speaker, Chinese grammar isn't highly inflected, unlike Navajo. Also, wouldn't it be less time consuming to just describe the object rather than stress over whether not you had the right verb form? I'm sure at least some native speakers don't know all the grammar, given how random it is. I really don't think that adding a few words is that time consuming, given as English speakers no one really complains about how "unconcise" our language is.

[@wishingwell12345]

Civilised nations learned to write stuff down.

[@SKYRECRUIT236]

My mom was a demolition foreman in her late 20s in Arizona and was living on a reservation, and had to hire a babysitter for her sons. The babysitter went on to just keep the boys at her house until my mom was off work and this went on for about a 3 years and in that time my brother learned Navajo at 1 and it was actually the first language he spoke. He has no recollection of any of it but sometimes he talks Navajo his sleep

[@lowkeygneiss7432]

Aww that's just cute and awesome story.

[@ac1646]

That is amazing.

[@ChristianThomasLeitel]

Very cool

[@filipedias7284]

That's some neuroscience thesis material right there

[@keren8940]

I’m learning Russian and feel very overwhelmed, now after seeing this I realize I shouldn’t complain 😳😂

[@damnnmad460]

Это очень здорово) Желаю успехов в изучении!!!

[@andyevans1504]

you should check out michel thomas russian course. its only 8 hours and you can get pretty good in a few weeks!

[@АндрейСид-ф1м]

Хороший выбор, удачи и успехов тебе

[@gooru20]

@@andyevans1504 Russian isn't that dificult. If you wan't try slavic language, hardest is prodably polish. Many think that this is almost imposible to learn this language. Gramar is very dificult. Pronaunce is also very dificult. As I am native Polish, If I want learn other slavic language most dificult is prodably Czech or Latvian.

[@missjazz913]

It’s so nice 👍🏻 удачи в учебе ! 😊

[@CardCatCardboard]

Reading an Autobiography from a Codetalker right now (Chester Nez, very good book), and he talks a decent amount of how and why it’s so complicated, and that if you weren’t raised by it from infancy, it’s basically impossible to become fluent.

[@LUGETA]

Bro really said “ Nikaah” cutting it close there 💀

[@squiggalywiggaly2142]

Where all my nikaahs at?!

[@kingding-a-ling9794]

He's a real nikaah, he can say it😂😂

[@efisgpr]

Yeah he does look like Nikocado

[@LUGETA]

@@efisgpr 💀 Wrong thing but it’s probably better

[@sharksu605]

​@@efisgprwtf does it have to do with anything

[@kairishahad]

Native American languages, with almost no exceptions, are *verbing* languages. That is why there are so many different versions of verbs and why they are so context-dependent. This is what people mean when they say "[Native American] languages contain the culture", because a tree is not a noun--not a object--but a living thing which is animated through language and can influence the world around it. This is also why it is so difficult for westerners to learn them, because western languages are *nouning* languages; everything is discrete and extractable into a single object. Once you understand this, it becomes a lot easier to learn.

[@Entremanures]

Sounds like bullshit. But I don’t get it

[@Wandering_Wayfarer]

@@Entremanures yeah that's explain your comment

[@petrathorsty3833]

I understand what you mean and totally agree. To learn the language, you need to understand the culture that the language is rooted in

[@ferbyfurben9640]

@@Entremanures i appreciate your honesty

[@Entremanures]

@@petrathorsty3833 yeah. thats so nutty to me.

[@epeter4188]

LDF Ojibwe here. Always happy when any native group is spoken about, let alone an entire video about them....

[@TheUnderscore_]

Well, it is a KZbin Short video. Still love it though.

[@darknevangelist]

He has a longer video (maybe more, idk) of him visiting Navajo country and interacting with people as he learned the languages. It's worth a watch if you liked this video. Xiaoma has alot of multicultural respect . One of the reasons I really like his channel

[@williamharrison1710]

Boozhoo fellow Anishinnabe!!👋 Sorry my ojibwe is is bad when it comes to spelling.

[@krisstarr8515]

Oji-Cree here Northern Ontario

[@kactus1889]

@@krisstarr8515 hey cousin, I'm also oji-cree and from northern Ontario 😂

[@starbird14]

Wow, that is an incredibly detailed and advanced language. I would love to hear some navajo poetry or writing.

[@joeycantrell5669]

My grandpa served as a translator with the Navajo code talkers on Guam and in the pacific during WW2. They had such an impact on him I grew up knowing about these legendary warriors, he would go visit them for years until is death a few years back such an amazing culture. Thanks for sharing, ❤

[@lauraduffy9055]

I'm grateful for your Grandfather's service.

[@GeriatricPimp]

As a Diné American, it always makes me happy when others speak good of my people. Thank you for your grandfather's service....I mean that.

[@GeriatricPimp]

@@auntie_Slayer I think the O.P. means a Korean to English translator. If I'm wrong, then I hope he can try and be a little more clear about what he meant.

[@GeriatricPimp]

@@auntie_Slayer don't be chasing aunties.....I know they're easy but it might end up that you get into a fight with one of the nephews haha jk.

[@auntie_Slayer]

@@GeriatricPimp I could've been a little nicer. Bs, is kinda harsh. Hopefully OP can clear up what he means. Peace be with you.

[@mumffin7]

I grew up in Utah but moved to northern Arizona to start teaching and 80% of my students are Navajo. It’s really quite interesting to see how different the culture is and to hear the language. Usually about half of the graduation ceremony each year is in Navajo and I can’t understand it. We also say the pledge of allegiance every day in both English and Navajo.

[@mrdune5479]

The pledge of Allegiance in Navajo sounds like a joke. No way they pledge Allegiance to the American flag

[@yucol5661]

@@mrdune5479gotta take the pledge from the bad ancestors and give it a good name today. Sure the origins sucked. But it’s ours now to rehabilitate

[@theapplebauce6254]

@@mrdune5479 well they are Americans in government funded schools like everyone else 💀💀 contrary to what white saviors might lead you to believe, most natives are proud Americans lol

[@moonbalancedd]

pledge of allegiance in navajo is some hardcore colonization. I mean I get it theoretically it makes sense, but just contextually bad taste.

[@theapplebauce6254]

@@moonbalancedd well they're American, idk why keeping their language alive and integrating their culture would be a bad thing. Its still their home

[@velvetchiharu]

So refreshing to see some say that a language is challenging while explaining it respectfully at the same time as opposed to just saying “it’s weird xD” or “it’s soooo hard, I’m just not used to saying stuff like this!!”

[@saturdayradionova1734]

@@pinkfloyddwc Many people (ahem, western people) when talking about a foreign language usually prioritize talking about that language’s “weirdness” from their perspective over talking about how interesting or cool it is-it’s nice to see someone talk about Navajo which is very complicated without pausing to say “isn’t it so strange? Isnt it so cooky and weird haha lol” which gets old hearing if you’re a native speaker who from their perspective their language isn’t “weird” or whatever, it just is what they speak

[@ashtynfekete4280]

@@saturdayradionova1734 Anyone would compare a language’s “weirdness” relative to their own language. Weird means being different from normalcy, and normalcy varies from place to place. It’s only natural for someone to think of something as being “weird” if it’s different than that which they’re used to. It’s no insult, just relative thought.

[@jeremias-serus]

@@saturdayradionova1734 Hate to break it to ya, but these mythical nonwesterners are the same way.

[@MayTheSchwartzBeWithYou]

@@saturdayradionova1734 You're a clown if you think normalizing one's own culture and exoticizing foreign cultures is unique to Westerners.

[@snuffeldjuret]

@@saturdayradionova1734 please, you are just making stuff up. Western people are the most respectful people in the world.

[@PatEller]

And . . . We all appreciate you Xiaoma so much!! Thank you not only for your language abilities, but also fir the hard work that you put into your channels for us to enjoy! 😊

[@SQUIZZLER24]

The Navajo “Ł” appears to be the same as a Welsh “Ll”, which is interesting to me for some reason.

[@TrifoldBored]

Yes there are languages that use the same sound, shocking

[@micjiggity6671]

@@TrifoldBored well the voiceless alveolar fricative (the IPA name for it) is a very rare phoneme in language

[@TrifoldBored]

@@micjiggity6671 ok

[@fishyfish6510]

I live in Northeast India and in my native language we use ñ a lot just like in Spanish

[@matertua2272]

@@micjiggity6671 I think it's a lot less rare in the Americas though, because my tribe's language, Ucwalmícwts, has it, as well as Nahuatl, Inuktitut, and as mentioned in the video, Navajo.

[@totahsam8293]

I remember a cousin telling me about the time they visited Disneyland and were surrounded by Chinese tourists. Normally we do garner a bit of attention because we were raised traditional and don't cut our hair. They had their hair in traditional buns tied with yarn. They realized they were the topic of conversation among the Chinese tourists due to a lot of finger pointing and staring. In Navajo society this is considered rude. So what my cousin did was start talking Navajo and pointing right back. Everyone joined in. The tourists became uncomfortable and walked off. Turn about is fair play. My grandfather was a codetalker. Until the day he died he never spoke of it. His duty was that sacred to him.

[@ANTSEMUT1]

That's kinda weird for Chinese to do, at least traditionally what they are doing is considered extremely rude.

[@thedeviouspanda]

It's rude in every culture. Chinese tourists have a horrible reputation though and don't seem to think about how their actions reflect on the wider population.

[@kirstybrown1185]

@@thedeviouspanda to be fair, it's annoying but understandable at the same time and I've witnessed Chinese tourists being physically assaulted because of complete nonchalant attitude to blocking a busy road to take pictures of a church in Edinburgh (don't annoy a Scotsman trying to get to work and definately don't wave them off like they're the ones in the wrong, one of the tourists was so rude about it) but at the same time, this is a very controlling country who have their own internet to oppress their citizens. A lot of these tourists may genuinely be intrigued about things they never knew anything about, ability to research other countries and their societal norms would be more difficult for them than most countries inhabitants. So while I get annoyed when I see people being inconsiderate, I try remind myself that they may not actually be aware of how inconsiderate what they are doing is and are just excited tourists having a great time and appreciating your country when they had other options. As long as idiotic white people are mooning religious sites and reminding themselves how "lucky they are" on Insta representing us, I think we can handle obnoxious tourists, not doing any of that. 😂😂

[@Apache148414]

@@thedeviouspanda I’d agree 100%. They always top the charts for being the worst tourist around the world.

[@DeterminedGoat]

Some have a staring problem in the SF bay, I'll tell you that

[@Chrisroygbiv]

When you want someone to pass you the glass of water “Nikaah please” 😂

[@yamix7266]

No. “Nikaah” is when you are giving a container. Not asking to receive.

[@Afuro-Ougi2]

@@yamix7266 Do you realize what the word sounds like

[@mitchsw007]

I hope you black

[@yamix7266]

@@Afuro-Ougi2 it doesn’t sound like that word if you pronounce it properly. “Nikaah” has a longer vowel sound.

[@andrewmtgx]

@@mitchsw007 his africna american !! but his mum is caucasuain!

[@thenlnlkn]

This is one of the most interesting language videos I’ve seen yet 👏

[@RavenFeathers90]

I'm an registered Ojibwe tribal member that grew up off the reservation. I'm my mostly white, but many of my relatives still live on the reservation. We don't know our language and I'm on a journey to learn Ojibwe and preserve my ancestral language :)

[@ginoiminoi]

That’s awesome! I hope you are successful:)

[@TheGrinch_]

Good luck 😁 Ms, I doing the same thing learning the Acholi language before I go to Africa later this year.

[@alexandrahenderson4368]

Where is your reserve... Michigan state teaches it and my cousins in Canada still speak it... Also Waking up Ojibwe is a great KZbin channel

[@keymaster430]

As an English speaker, I'm on a journey to learn and bring back correct English to English speakers.

[@visigo7770]

If you're mostly white your ancestral language isn't Ojibwe, it's probably German, french or English 😭

[@bandilenzimande5253]

Language is so interesting. To give in Zulu is "Nika" too. We call all the different verb forms "izimpambosi" and there aren't nearly as many as in Navajo.

[@princessthyemis]

Wow, "izimpambosi" is a beautiful looking/sounding word!

[@ShouHeiKun1932]

@@princessthyemis yeah, kinda jealous. English speakers should do what we always do… and steal the word and make it into an everyday English word, we can rendezvous about this later.

[@augustuscaesar8287]

@@ShouHeiKun1932 English speakers don't just """""steal"""""" words from other languages. They're called "loan words". Literally every single language spoken has loan words.

[@ShouHeiKun1932]

@@augustuscaesar8287 I’m not against, isn’t it, loan seems like a good term. But only if we pay it back with our own word, no? Isnt taking without paying back just stealing? Also, it seems like some languages loan more than others, English for example. I’m a native English speaker, and personally love the language, for reasons just like that.

[@Thatdudewiththedogs]

…. Huh?

[@ynerrad9291]

More exposure of Native American languages is something I can get behind ❤️

[@tabor503]

Please do more on this!!!!!!

[@aimeekreutzer-malkawi]

So so true!! I’ve lived here 17 years in this area and my children’s father was fluent in Navajo and I feel like I barely knew anything. Our son is barely learning at school but the writing prt he is struggling and we can’t find anyone to help him with his finals tonight with the writing part. I wish his father was still alive. I want him to learn so the language doesn’t die

[@djnightmare6666]

Doulingo has Navajo on the app now.

[@yippeeflowers]

you realize you could be learning too, right? and enrolling your kids in it. instead of complaining.

[@minagelina]

Do they have an immersion course like the Cherokee do? They do it for kids and for adults at the CNO

[@LatinaCreamQueen]

​@@yippeeflowersshe's a single mother you heartless baboon.

[@mia_venn]

Now I know why the Japanese couldn’t decipher the Navajo language. Im related to two of the remaining code talkers left in the world, so I really would like to learn Navajo soon. (I’ve been in a parade with one of the code talkers on TV! Just thought I’d share because it was truly an amazing experience.) Love you great-grandpa! ❤️

[@annamae0011]

Love your miraculous ladybug profile pic ❤

[@otpays8552]

So sad how pathetic our generation is

[@LatinaCreamQueen]

Beautiful story! Really worth learning to pass down that little piece of history. :)

[@shrupsr6]

nobody gives a fuck😭

[@garymcgeorge7657]

God bless him

[@john-paulsilke893]

I love the sound of this language. It’s both musical and non-musical at the same time. So lovely.

[@jimmygarcia6766]

Man, I friggin LOVE this channel.

[@marcilee7015]

I'm full Navajo and I speak Navajo but there's still a lot to learn. I can carry a basic conversation but I'm lost when it gets out of my boundaries lol

[@SeddieBear]

Same! I've spoken the language for pretty much my whole life, but still mess up in conversations and still get berated by shinalí and shicheii 😂

[@marcilee7015]

@@SeddieBear 😂 OMG!! But since they teach the language in school now, sometimes my kids come home with a new word they learned that I don't know. Lol

[@אוהבתורהומדע]

I am Israeli who learns Diné bizaad and it is different when it comes to verbs (I am mostly used to Semitic languages)

[@TheZippyMark]

Why do you think the language ended up being so complex like that?

[@womps4563]

My freshman history teacher was part Navaho, pretty chill dude and taught us a bit, on April fools he wrote our test in Navaho, only time I've ever been proud of a 50%

[@leooo6311]

omfg i would be

[@BobbieTheFish]

When he talked about giving water: 🤨📷

[@bobbarker171]

I heard the same thing 😂

[@TealTunic]

"Nikaah." Hmm, sounds like something I've heard before... OH WAIT NOO-

[@them4601]

Whats up my cup of water

[@Amoritarius]

PFFFFFFT 💀

[@iqrafatwa2933]

Maybe you heard from one of Malay speaking and said the word 'nikah' means 'married' in English.

[@yorgunsamuray]

@@iqrafatwa2933 in Turkish it is the name for wedding ceremony.

[@DishonoredGOD]

It's the neo pronouns. Nick and Ga. Nick Ga.

[@noahgossett]

My bestfriend and his entire family speaks Navajo. It’s so cool to hear the talking to one another even though I have absolutely zero clue what they are saying.

[@dakota4111]

Im learning Navajo (Elementary Level) rn. Im 1/4 native and havent really learned anything about my roots, so even though Im doing this for a scholarship, I think its important to keep those roots and Im honestly enjoying it so far

[@dmd7472]

@@abharpleave him 🧌

[@thepoltergeizzt]

Keep learning it’s a fading language, to let it die would be so tragic

[@dakota4111]

@@abharp Its been 10 months

[@dakota4111]

@@thepoltergeizzt Navajo along with the countless other native american languages

[@thepoltergeizzt]

@@dakota4111 devastating amount of lost history, not even the burning of the library of Alexandria compares. The world would be a far better place today if natives were able to maintain their cultures of community and peace.

[@Tracy_R]

I love this video and explaining how it work, you're amazing

[@artsinew6572]

Its starting to sound like you can study language your whole life and never be able to master it all.. what a life goal. Mad respect.

[@Ryan-nn1kl]

Same with anything else, insects along would take mutiple lifetimes changing as you go with time

[@artsinew6572]

@@Ryan-nn1kl as everything keeps changing so does the math to get there.

[@kactus1889]

me with english

[@FloraNovax3]

Indigenous tribal languages are definitely some of the hardest. You should also check out Nahuatl; it’s rough. Unfortunately I just couldn’t pick up Navajo (Diné), I applaud my Diné relatives who can speak so fluently.

[@fanaticofmetal]

@@Jess-737 Reminds me of Xóõ or something like that, it has lots of clicks, it's a tonal language and words have weird spellings and accent

[@ellax325]

@the sunny boi Xhosa?

[@thabokgwele5268]

Ella X lol yeah I got the sense they meant Xhosa too

[@kendalljohnson9172]

@@ellax325 no...!xóõ...look it up. also known as Taa language

[@kendalljohnson9172]

@@thabokgwele5268 please see above

[@GreenJeepAdventures]

I used to travel through Arizona and New Mexico to visit family. One of the most interesting memories is of hearing Navajo radio.

[@mikes.6751]

Full blooded Navajo here. You do a good job brother!

[@daje2407]

Holy shit this is pretty cool never thought our language would ever get acknowledged ahee'hee' (thank you). Damn this is so cool easy word to say is yes its aoo' but pronounced oat.

[@Queer_Nerd_For_Human_Justice]

Thanks for the mini lesson! ahee'hee'!

[@chowsu944]

Aheehee ? Didnt know michael jackson was indian.

[@blahblahblah9200]

​@chowsu944 you don't really say it the way it reads. The ee's are are almost long ee's and the h is not the harsh h as the American sound. Also both h's have a different sound. Lol, confusing much?

[@reginaldinoenchillada3513]

Respect. ❤🙏🤲 edit ☝️

[@karoniesthompson4355]

I think this is true for most languages native to the “americas”. I know kanen'kehá (Mohawk) and other “Iroquois” languages are similar to this.

[@funcisco]

Yes, I speak Guarani (a South American language) and we add/change prefixes and suffixes to the verbs depending on the situation. Still, the Navajo verbs seem harder 😅

[@matertua2272]

I'm part of the Lil' Wat nation in British Columbia, and our language, Ucwalmícwts, is a lot like this but less insane

[@DonovanPresents]

I had a friend who was Navajo. I tried asking how to say hello and when they wrote it down it felt like my eyes crossed 😹

[@BeGuidedByHisLove]

Yá'át'ééh! I grew up in southeastern Utah and have taken Navajo classes and have Navajo family. It's a gorgeous language!

[@MJBankss]

Amazing video ari. As a native it’s crazy to see you speak Navajo and Cree

[@GlamorousTitanic21]

After the war, the head of Japanese intelligence said in an interview that the Navajo code was simply too complex and unknown, and that it was the only code they never managed to break.

[@marydaniella2079]

After learning Navajo from a class instead of just my family. It is very difficult but it makes learning every other language so much easier 😄 😀 LOVE YOUR VIDS!!!!!!!! THANK YOU FOR TAKING YOUR TIME TO LEARN NAVAJO. Nizhoni 💗💗💗 I appreciate you 🙏

[@yourlocalsimp3445]

As a relatively fluent speaker myself and as well as coming from a long line of First Language Speakers, I commend this guy for using the time and patience that it takes in order to learn our sacred language, especially with choosing to live with native speakers as well! Warmest regards to you my kind sir!☺️👏

[@yourlocalsimp3445]

You have a point, however, perhaps it’s because others who are just like you are not trying to speak it whatsoever. You’re simply feeding into the problem of it going extinct in like what you said is an estimate of 50 years. This not only makes you compliant with the death of a language but also culture from a hopeful people. Others are more than willing to learn our ways, just like this kind man in the video. But those who won’t even bother trying or attempting to fathom the beauty and sacredness of our people have nothing to do with us. Not only that, but they shouldn’t get to have the right to dictate or commentate on anything involving us, so please stop. Feel free to your opinion, but one way or another, generation through generation, I know that my language will live to see another day, another person. Speaking it is a challenge, and trying to read and write it is even worse. But I’d rather try to keep what my ancestors have tried so desperately to keep alive with me. So instead of having such a pessimistic outlook on the extinction of a language you don’t quite know, maybe learn from this man here who has accomplished so much. Oh, and if you’d please. If you have nothing nice to say, keep it to yourself. Thank you.☺️

[@yippeeflowers]

​@@yourlocalsimp3445you're blaming us for the genocide against our people? what's wrong with you?

[@Tornnnado]

​@@yourlocalsimp3445you know you left that comment for yourself, right?

[@average4098]

"But that of course varies depending on whether or not the cup is full." I think my eyes about popped out of head!😂

[@bryantnavajo3738]

Xiaomannyc is the Best, I’ve always enjoyed watching his videos. I love learning new things about different cultures but the 3 videos he made in the Navajo nation really hit home and touched my heart.

[@kingtut4537]

You made me tear up ❤️ thank you for bringing light to my people

[@Adam-wm2ys]

What's even weirder is that the letter ł is also used in Polish, but signifies totally different sound

[@Arcifer]

Yeah that is very surprising, i thought first he meant the phonetics character but then i googled it and i read "Ł or ł, described in English as L with stroke, is a letter of the Polish, Kashubian, Sorbian, Belarusian Latin, Ukrainian Latin, Wymysorys, Navajo". Although speaking about most difficult languages to learn or master I have read in many occasions that Polish is right up there on the top. I'm also not that surprised about it.

[@thisguy976]

@@Arcifer Welsh is pretty hard as is old Gaeilge.

[@deedetres703]

you are so gifted! I absolutely admire your intellect!

[@dracomadness792]

This is with a ton of indigenous languages. I’ve been learning my native language,chahta (Choctaw). Many languages are very descriptive and very contextual. Instead of saying “the four big red houses” it would be “houses big red four” we also have an interesting sound too. “hl” you press your tounge on the top of your mouth and try to pronounce the “Th” sound in English. We also have nasalization in our words. Very complex compared to English 😅

[@princessthyemis]

Wow that sounds so cool! Saying "houses big red four" makes total sense to me even though I grew up learning only English!

[@dracomadness792]

@@princessthyemis I really like it. Instead of making it ambiguous by saying Four big red. It’s clear you are talking about houses

[@shonenjumpmagneto]

It implies how smart they were for where language was at in the world at the time. They ran out of things to make words for so worked with whatbthey had. For example & context the word "wheel" was missing for years in some Native NA langauages until it had reason to have one.

[@shonenjumpmagneto]

@@princessthyemis put commas after each word. Makes more sense

[@sambradley9091]

@@shonenjumpmagneto well, you don't really need a word for wheels when you don't need them. often without extensive and hard flattening of land, wheels were basically useless compared to water travel like canoes

[@carlab994]

Now I understand why in "The X-Files" they had top-secret documentation written in Navajo. Also, the 'Code Talkers' people are talking about in the comments sound incredibly amazing, would love to learn more!

[@robinsdoom]

im glad im not the only one who made this connection ! navajo code talkers were super-important during wwii as it was the only language the germans could not comprehend. the x-files does a wonderful job of showing how important the navajo language has been to top-secret endeavours such as those :)

[@purplefireweed]

Wikipedia. Google. 🧐

[@Hoezi02]

I love that he gives an actual answer instead of the usual "It depends"-Spiel.

[@kennystrydom2579]

But 'it depends' is the actual answer...

[@karenbaker2566]

Which is why the Codetalkers were able to help the Allies win WW II. ❤️

[@aferalkid]

Don't be proud of Neanderthals ruining the world, you are definitely the bad guys in world war II

[@naveen5126]

did you just type a heart after talking about WW2?

[@whowantsbrowncheese1684]

Disgusting

[@doorknob8972]

@마하드 ez squad wipe

[@mindideapositivethoughts7675]

youtuuu.tokyo/4g4MEX8XTkU

[@KellyNaylor]

I've been trying to learn Navajo for years. I know some words. I can even pronounce some of them. Honestly, it makes going back to Irish seem super simple. I still love to listen to Navajo speakers even though I have no idea what they're saying. It's a beautiful language.

[@zayn181]

I was done after “depending on if your cup is full or not” like that should of been obvious😂

[@SuperMadman41]

Good luck with learning Navajo !!

[@longbeing]

I will never complain about Spanish conjugation again

[@audreym.jamrowski7879]

This is sorta similar to Japanese with the giving, except for counting. You can't just say "there's eleven things" they have a specific counter for if it's round, flat, cylindrical, an animal, days, etc.

[@MichaelSmith-lm6xl]

I used to get annoyed with the counter thing when learning Japanese, but tbh we also do this in English. We would say “three sheets of paper” in stead of just “three papers”. Or “two strips of bacon” instead of two bacons

[@audreym.jamrowski7879]

@@MichaelSmith-lm6xl Interesting, I've never thought about that. I'm sure I'll get used to counting in Japanese someday 🙄☺️

[@anthonysantiago2880]

@@MichaelSmith-lm6xl That just isn't right lmao. U don't say it differently because you're counting, you say it differently because that's just how you describe it in general. You wouldn't say "a bacon" or "a water" if you were counting or not.

[@user-sf9gs2pg1b]

@@MichaelSmith-lm6xl Never thought of it that way. I’m learning Korean, and I’m still early, but I’m realizing things about English I never really thought about. Like, in Korean you don’t use a subject nearly as often. It’s based off of context. This is a poor example, as I said I’m new to Korean, but I’m trying my best: “How are you?” “How are?” Now, why would “you” be necessary in that sentence? If I’m looking at you, you know I’m asking how you are. If I said,” How are you?” and I’m not looking at you, you’d think I’m talking to someone else. It opened my eyes a little bit and made me realize how unnecessary some of the things in English are, lol. Phonetical inconsistency is by far my least favorite thing about English. It seems difficult to learn, but I wouldn’t know. I also think you can learn a lot about a culture from their language, as Korean has a lot of formal and informal words.

[@ksawerykaminski2606]

That's why i love polysynthetic languages cause they have cool structures that work like codes

[@jackielehman8945]

I love that "to give" is so complex. It shows how important it is to the culture 😊

[@ynotchristian1366]

Dang dude! You have a gift for languages & I’m slightly envious; but also have admiration for you! ❤ wow!❤

[@melwasnevergivenaname]

AAAHH this helps so much, I started learning this beautiful language about 6 months ago and Duolingo isn't always giving us those crucial vocal examples, Ahéheè!

[@Maidiac214]

To my ears it's always been one of the most beautiful languages.

[@aphex4000]

Your passion for languages is so inspiring, not just for learning languages, but for all things. This short was also a great explanation! Keep it up!

[@eryalmario5299]

I'm just glad that the Navajo language is still alive. Fascinating language to know about

[@eat_pray_porg8450]

More power to you, Ari! I started learning Navajo and I got to overwhelmed, so I gave up. I realized that I really wanted to go back and restart my learning of Scottish Gaelic. There are other languages I want to learn, too. But...one at a time!

[@zaralemieux3463]

This is phenomenal

[@AngelaSmith_1970]

I’m trying to learn the language of my people, Tulalip tribes Lushootseed 😎✊🏽

[@cuddlemuffin.9545]

Youre white lmao

[@tonydiploma]

Glad you took the time to learn a native language... it would be interesting to hear you speak Lakota as we have nasal and guttural sounds....

[@dangerousboxx666]

When I worked in the fields of north Dakota, there were tons of Navajo up there looking for work. It was really interesting listening to chat back and forth to each other on their language. They were all hard workers and very respectful.

[@dylanjones8433]

enjoyed all your long vids.

[@olekan1351]

My dad’s life long friend Ashoka is Navajo and can speak, write, and read it fluently. The town they grew up in was quite the tourist town and was right next to Lake Powell. Ashoka would teach my dad all kinds of explicit phrases and they would go around cursing the tourists in a language they could never dream to understand.

[@oliviaolivia3002]

wow, that’s actually amazing that their language is so complex and specific. You get so much more information about what your talking about without having to say more words or use more time explaining.

[@ElRey_Congo]

Fascinating… the Navajo language sounds like pure wisdom when spoken

[@InsaneOranges]

Just noticed your blinking. You’re awesome dude I’m gonna start showing my son your videos

[@donttalktomebye]

Native American languages are so beautiful for its complexity. I feel like they're a perfect example of how they viewed he world around them and I feel like its very telling why learning it is so hard when most widely spoken languages in the east that had more influence on each other is so different from indigenous languages. I read that Patowatomi is similar im how it views verbs and conjugation

[@Blue-wz5um]

it's kind of beautiful that they have so many different words for give

[@brrblack497]

Just the sound of it being spoken is amazing. I'm a musician so tone and phrasing are everything.

[@gillianlemire5927]

Thank you so much for shining a spotlight on the beautiful Navajo/Dine language, and I hope more people will join the efforts to save this endangered language!

[@justsumkid]

I remember trying to learn navajo since i was planning on doing a nationwide travel plan and was going to be passing many navajo nation areas. Its really just something Duolingo cant teach. It feels like the only way to know the language is to be a native speaker lmao

[@jackgray1402]

A very precise language based on relationships of objects. Lovely. 🥰

[@mediumsyllables]

Such a cool language, i hope it never dies

[@CaitlinCrenshaw]

You are so brilliant!

[@goldy_on_pc930]

You man are a solid cup of water

[@rachidvanheyningen]

maaaah 🥷

[@desertrose3511]

I’m someone who met missionaries to the Navajo, they also said it was an incredibly hard language to learn! Kudos to anyone who is trying to speak the language when it’s not their native tongue 👏🏻

[@theeradic5629]

These people that learn all these languages are amazing. I am spanish, my family speaks spanish (but never taught me or my other siblings), i took spanish in school from 6th grade until i graduated but i still cant speak/understand it.