Congratulations on being settled in your new geographic home! It sure looks as if you’ve got a comfortable setup in the RV for the time being, even with a nice variety of typewriters (although I can’t make out what you might have meant to type instead of “untral portables”)!
I applaud your willingness to engage with Diné. From what little I know of that language, the grammar is so formidable as to make it superlatively difficult for speakers of European languages, but from what I know of people, your efforts will be appreciated even if you never graduate beyond baby-talk, or even a few nouns.
Whoops. I meant to type “ultra portable,” which nicely fit under a desk.
Yes. I don’t expect to do very well with Diné, but learning some greetings would be nice. That’s all anyone wants from an American in France. Just show some respect for the language and culture.
Bought a postcard the other day, btw. It will be nice to get back to writing and correspondence!
That’s quite the coincidence. Any recommendations for poets/fiction writers. I won’t be teaching native lit, but I wouldn’t mind slipping in a good short story (in English, unfortunately).
Susan suggests you try Luci Tapahonso – Navaho Poet. Leslie Silko from Laguna Pueblo, NM, novel called Ceremony. She might have short stories too. Browse Salt Of The Earth Books in Albuquerque – great book store if still open – on Route 66.
Congratulations on getting your house in order. The arrangement looks very nice. I’m sure you will enjoy the environment and lack of over population of NM.
I can only imagine the sky out there at night. In MT and WY the night sky is indescribable.
Learning a new language for a locale is really interesting. Where I’m from many still speak PA Dutch. Never being around Navajo I’ve never heard anyone one speak Diné.
I was happy to hear Diné rolling off tongues. It apparently survived the English language invasion better than Gaelic did, the latter requiring active schooling.
The wind is near constant here. I feel like I’m on a boat!
I have much to learn about the culture. I certainly want to stress that English is no replacement for Diné. I guess I’m teaching the language of business. I wish other cultures had been as successful resisting English.
The Untimely Typewriter:Daily Writings Against the Tides of Distraction 
Congratulations on being settled in your new geographic home! It sure looks as if you’ve got a comfortable setup in the RV for the time being, even with a nice variety of typewriters (although I can’t make out what you might have meant to type instead of “untral portables”)!
I applaud your willingness to engage with Diné. From what little I know of that language, the grammar is so formidable as to make it superlatively difficult for speakers of European languages, but from what I know of people, your efforts will be appreciated even if you never graduate beyond baby-talk, or even a few nouns.
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Whoops. I meant to type “ultra portable,” which nicely fit under a desk.
Yes. I don’t expect to do very well with Diné, but learning some greetings would be nice. That’s all anyone wants from an American in France. Just show some respect for the language and culture.
Bought a postcard the other day, btw. It will be nice to get back to writing and correspondence!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I confess to never having heard of Diné. I’ll ask my wife, who worked towards a PhD in Native American poetry, and spent some time in New Mexico.
Who needs a house when you have all you need in the RV?
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That’s quite the coincidence. Any recommendations for poets/fiction writers. I won’t be teaching native lit, but I wouldn’t mind slipping in a good short story (in English, unfortunately).
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Susan suggests you try Luci Tapahonso – Navaho Poet. Leslie Silko from Laguna Pueblo, NM, novel called Ceremony. She might have short stories too. Browse Salt Of The Earth Books in Albuquerque – great book store if still open – on Route 66.
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Congratulations on getting your house in order. The arrangement looks very nice. I’m sure you will enjoy the environment and lack of over population of NM.
I can only imagine the sky out there at night. In MT and WY the night sky is indescribable.
Learning a new language for a locale is really interesting. Where I’m from many still speak PA Dutch. Never being around Navajo I’ve never heard anyone one speak Diné.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I was happy to hear Diné rolling off tongues. It apparently survived the English language invasion better than Gaelic did, the latter requiring active schooling.
I hope to see MT and WY in a few years.
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This may be a record for the number of typewriters in an RV … it looks like a cool, romantic set-up.
I’ve driven through Navajoland and listened to the Diné radio broadcasts (which often lapse into English phrases). Fascinating.
My son really enjoyed his Native American lit class at USC last year.
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The wind is near constant here. I feel like I’m on a boat!
I have much to learn about the culture. I certainly want to stress that English is no replacement for Diné. I guess I’m teaching the language of business. I wish other cultures had been as successful resisting English.
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