Rosetta Stone

[Andre Cramblit]

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.
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