Many leading figures in the field of Athabaskan languages contributed to this volume, and their range of topics matches Robert Young's interests. Four papers deal with northern Athabaskan languages, which Young studied in the 1930s. The remaining essays focus on aspects of Navajo language and culture; Young has specialized in this area for over fifty years in collaboration with his mentor, William Morgan, Sr. Several essays present detailed analysis of verb and sentence structure in Navajo, two are studies of Navajo literacy, another examines Navajo philosophy, and one offers the first study of how children learn the complexities of the Navajo verb. Anyone interested in Navajo studies or Athabaskan languages will find these essays invaluable.

エチオピアの南西部で話されているウォライタ語（アフロアジア大語族、オモ系）の総合的で詳細な記述的研究。有声喉頭化音の存在の指摘、表記の実態の分析、「具体性」という概念を用いた普通名詞の形の使い分けの解明、固有名詞の多面的な記述、ヴォイスの複合現象の検討等、オリジナルな視点を含みつつもレファランスグラマーとして望ましい姿を模索。世界的に密かな注目を集めていた博士論文、待望の出版。〈日本学術振興会助成予定刊行物〉