The Mastodon Diaries Dictionary
The paleo-indian terms listed here and used throughout “The Mastodon Diaries” are actually Navajo terms, as described in the Navajo Code Talkers’ Dictionary.
For the sake of this story, I am following the X-Files’ plotline that posits the Navajo language is similar to the language originally spoken by the Anasazi, a group of Native people who mysteriously vanished without a trace from the American southwest more than 600 years ago. The character Albert Hosteen, Native Navajo and a Code Talker during WWII, told Mulder and Scully that “Anasazi” literally means “ancient aliens.” He believed the Anasazi tribe had been abducted “by visitors who come here still.” Hosteen later helped translate the symbols discovered on several fragments of an alien spacecraft. His ability to read the extraterrestrial symbols implied a connection, or at least a similarity, between the languages of Anasazi, Navajo, and the alien visitors.
My profoundest apologies if I have inappropriately used any Navajo terms in this fictional novel.
(Thanks go to Inya for suggesting the idea of a Mastodon Diaries Dictionary.)
Terms are listed below by chapter for easy reference.
Li-chi (tse-gah) -- red (hair)
Ne-zhoni -- pretty
A-nah-ne-dzin -- not friendly
Ha-gade -- mine
Kut -- now
Lit -- smoke
Nih-tsa-goh-al-neh -- make big
Nil-ta -- stubborn
Tehi -- Let's go.
Wo-chi -- light streak
Chuo -- fir
Dibeh -- sheep
Dzeh -- elk
Gini -- chicken hawk
Hih-do-nal -- move
Klesh -- snake
Klizzie -- goat
Ta-akwai-i -- stop
Tabaha -- edge water
Toh-ta -- between waters
Tse-e -- mosquito
A-ye-shi -- eggs
A-zey-al-ih -- place of medicine
Chindi -- devil
Dah-de-yah -- He left.
Ha-neh-al-enji -- making talk
Lahn -- affirmative
Na-szah -- came back
Neh-hecho-da-ne -- friendly
Yah-a-da-hal-yon-ih -- take care of
Yeh-zihn -- stand up
A-Chin -- nose
Gah -- rabbit
Ho-Ya -- smart
Wol-la-chee Din-neh-ih -- Ant Clan
Be-zonz -- stinger
Do -- and
Ehdo -- also
Jeha -- gum
Lin -- horse
Moasi -- cat
Tsa-ond -- rock cave
Chal -- frog
Wo-chi -- light up
A-woh-tso -- mastodon
Beh-gha -- enough
Bih-din-ne-dey -- Put out of action
De-ji-kash -- bunch together
Hozo-go nay-yeltay to -- May we live in peace hereafter.
Huc-quo -- come
Nih-tsa-goh-al-neh -- make big
Ta-bilh -- together
Ut-zah -- It is done.
Ut-zah-ha-dez-bin -- It is done well.
Whe-hus-dil -- concussion
Who-Neh -- got word
Yah-a-da-hal-yon-ih -- take care of
Yah-tay-go-e-elah -- make good
Yeh-zihn -- stand up
Ah-jah -- ear
A-nah-ne-dzin -- not friendly
Bi-nih-nani -- cause
Cey-yehs-besi -- braided hair
Eh-ha-jay, nil-chi-tso -- Get out, Big Wind
Na-hos -- there
Ne-e-lahi -- pick up
Nil-ta -- stubborn
Sid -- scar
Yea-go -- with all your might
Ye-tsan -- run away from
Atsah -- eagle
Bi-ne-yei -- goal
Chay-da-gahi Din-neh-ih -- Tortoise Clan
Chuo -- fir
Clo-dih -- field
Das-teh-do -- begin
Ghaw-jih -- half
Na-e-lahi! -- pick up
Nahl-kihd -- move around
Ne-ahs-jah Din-neh-ih -- Owl Clan
Tkin -- ice
Tkoh-klesh -- water snake
Toh-ni-lih -- running water
Tsa-zhin -- ball
Ulh-ne-ih -- center
Wol-la-chee
Yo-lailh! -- carry
A-Chi -- intestine
Cha-gee -- blue jay
Nih-hi-cho -- allies/friends
Tacheene -- red soil
Ye-tsan -- run away from
Ah-toh -- nest
A-nah-ne-dzin bilh -- not friendly with
Shi-da -- uncle
Ta-yi-the -- continue
Ah-na-sozi --cliff dwelling
Atsanh -- rib
Ba-hal-neh -- tell about
Bel-dil-khon -- fill to top
Do-ya-sho-da -- no good
Na-e-lahi -- pick up
Nash-doie-tso -- lion
Ta-bilh -- together
Tkoh -- water
Tsah -- needle
Tsa-zhin -- black rock
Tse-ye-chee -- cliff
Ut-zah -- done
Who-neh -- got word
Yah-a-da-hal-yon-ih -- take care of
Yeh-hes -- itch
Al-tkas-ei lit -- mixed smoke
A-tkel-el-ini -- troublemaker
A-zay -- medicine
Cha-Gee -- Blue Jay
Do-ya-sho-da -- no good
Na-dzah -- came back
Naz-tsaid -- kill
Yeh-wol-ye hi-he a-din -- we know of no fear
A-ha-ne-ho-ta -- agreed
Alh-nahl-yah -- exchange
Al-khi-nal-dzl -- helping each other
Bilh-la di -- down below
Das-teh-do ta-bilh, ta-yi-teh ta-bilh, da-de-yah ta-bilh. -- Begin together, continue together, depart together.
Eda-ele-tsood -- aid
Ha-gade -- mine
Ho-nez-cla -- emergency
Nih-hi-cho -- allies
Shush -- bear
Tla-Gin -- coal
Ulh-ne-ih -- center
Yah-tay-go-e-elah -- make good
Yeh-hes -- itch
Tlo-Chin -- onion
Tse Bi dahi -- Rock with Wings
Dibeh -- sheep
Tacheene -- red soil
Tse-Le -- small pup
Yo-Ih -- bead
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