What was ironic about the fact that it was the Navajo language that the code was based on?
A) There were many Japanese code breakers that spoke the Navajo language
B) Native American people faced prison time for speaking their own language rather than English
C) Navajo people were forced to join the military and had no choice but to develop the code
D) The US government had set up the Indian School system to assimilate people, thus many native languages were lost
A????
it was D, so nvm
Yes, D.
"A" describes the whole reason why this code was developed. But the question asks what was ironic about …
Are you clear on the meaning of "ironic"?
https://www.dictionary.com/browse/ironic
Actually, the correct answer is C) Navajo people were forced to join the military and had no choice but to develop the code. The use of the Navajo language as a code during World War II was indeed ironic due to this reason.
To understand why this is ironic, let's break down the context. During World War II, the United States was facing a significant challenge in developing an unbreakable code that the enemy forces couldn't decipher. At the same time, many Native American individuals, including Navajo people, were being forced by the US government to join the military. This was a contradiction because Native American people had historically faced discrimination and oppression, and their languages and cultures were often suppressed through initiatives like the Indian School system.
However, despite these oppressive policies, the Navajo people managed to turn their language into an unbreakable code. They used their native language to create the Navajo Code, which became one of the most secure codes used by the US military during the war. This ironic situation highlights the resilience and ingenuity of the Navajo people, who turned a language that was historically suppressed into a vital tool for the US military.
In conclusion, the fact that the code was based on the Navajo language is ironic because Navajo people were forced to join the military and had no choice but to develop the code as a means of communication.