Paul Platero

Paul Platero
Born(1942-10-05)October 5, 1942
Borrego Pass, New Mexico
DiedNovember 16, 2020(2020-11-16) (aged 78)
Tohajiilee Indian Reservation, New Mexico
CitizenshipNavajo (Diné)
OccupationLinguist
Academic background
Alma materBrigham Young University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (M.S., Ph.D.)
ThesisMissing noun phrases in Navajo (1978)
Doctoral advisorKenneth L. Hale
Academic work
InstitutionsUniversity of New Mexico
Main interestsAthabaskan languages

Paul Platero (October 5, 1942 – November 16, 2020) was a Navajo linguist. He was born into the Water’s Edge Clan for the Two Who Came To the Water Clan.[1] He was a student of the late MIT linguistics professor Ken Hale. Platero earned his Ph.D. in linguistics from MIT, with a dissertation on the relative clause in Navajo.[2]

He published articles about the syntax and grammar of Navajo, and co-edited an overview of the Athabaskan languages.[3]

Platero taught the Navajo language at institutions including Swarthmore College and the Navajo Language Academy,[4] and also participated in language revitalization efforts to promote the use of Navajo among Navajo youth.[5]

  1. ^ Times, Navajo (2020-11-25). "Obituaries for Nov. 25, 2020". Navajo Times. Retrieved 2023-02-03.
  2. ^ Hale, Kenneth L.; Hinton, Leanne (2001). The green book of language revitalization in practice. Boston: Academic Press. p. 85. ISBN 0-12-349353-6.
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference athabaskanLanguages was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ "The Navajo Language Academy, Inc". Retrieved 2009-05-31.
  5. ^ "Swarthmore Publications/Collection Page". Retrieved 2009-05-28.