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The Japanese encounter with Navajo (Diné) “code talkers” in World War II 159
are: E, T, A, O, I, N. Next come the letters: S, H, R, D, L, U. This coding problem
was solved by elaborating the code alphabet.
3.2. The elaborated code
The English letter frequency issue was solved by creating an elaborated
alphabet in which the unit group was expanded in proportion to the letter frequency.
Hence multiple code words were created for given letters, e.g., three
words for the set E, T, A, O, I, N and two words for the set S, H, R, D, L, U.
Which letter/word was chosen was random and reinforced the already natural
randomness of Navajo word order. The elaborated code is given in Table 5.
Table 5. The complete code talker alphabet accommodating English letter frequency
letter Navajo word Meaning Letter Navajo word Meaning
A Wol-la-chee Ant N Nesh-chee Nut
A Be-la-sana Apple N Ts-a Needle
A Tse-nihil Axe N A-chen Nose
B Shush Bear O Ne-ahs-jah Owl
C Moasi Cat O Tio-chin Onion
D Be Deer O A-kha Oil
D Lha-cha-eh Dog P Bi-sodih Pig
E Dzeh Elk Q Ca-yeilth Quiver
E Ah-nah Eye R Gah Rabbit
E Ajh-jah Ear R Dah-nas-tsa Ram
F Ma-e Fox S Dibeh Sheep
G Klizzie Goat S Klesh Snake
H Lin Horse T Than-zie Turkey
H Tse-gah Hair T D-ah Tea
I Tkin Ice T A-woh Tooth
I Yeh-hes Itch U No-da-ih Ute
I A-chi Intestines U Shi-da Uncle
J Tkele-cho-gi Jackass V A-keh-di-glini Victor
K Klizzie-yazzie Kidd W Gloe-ih Weasel
L Dibeh-yazzie Lamb X Al-an-as-dzoh Cross
L Ah-jad Leg Y Tsah-as-zih Yucca
M Na-as-tsosi Mouse Z Besch-do-gliz Zinc
3.3. The lexicon
In addition to the elaborated alphabet, an initial lexicon of 265 words was
created consisting of names and actions. As the war proceeded, it proved necessary
to enlarge the lexicon to accommodate names for newly developed weapons
and changing tactics associated with the unique problems of invading islands
in the Pacific Ocean. The final June 15 1945 version of the elaborated
lexicon consists of 508 words (McClain 1994: 129, 268).