From Hóyéé to Hajinei

This paper examines the use of co-switching in Navajo written poetry. I look specifically at code-switching from English dominant poems to Navajo. outline three general semantic domains that are most commonly code-switched Navajo: 1) emotions; 2) mythic characters; and 3) traditional place-names. suggest this has do with a linguistic ideology understands these as incommensurate English. argue such code-switches “emblematic identity displays.” conclude by discussing relationship between “folk” orthographies “standard” orthographies. an over-reliance on “the standard” diminishing limits potential for creativity subtly undermines notions incommensurability when poets limited standard”, standard many Navajos not know.