Thomas R Jefferys <wyrm@mail.utexas.edu> enlightened us in the following manner:

 While
Navaho has nothing to do with English.  I am no linguistics expert, but
that much I'm certain of.

Well, I am more of a linguistics expert than you. I took a course. 

No need to be arrogant, oh man of overly large signature file.  

As I said, this so-called "certainty" is a *myth.*

I am in agreement with you that spoken Japanese and Chinese have about as much 
in common as vicchysoise and chow mein, but in terms of meanings of the kanji, 
I must disagree. 

There are variations, but in general the kanji meanings stay quite close in 
Japanese in Chinese.  Sometimes it is somewhat off, but the general meaning is 
usually identical.  Why do I think this?
a) My relatives and friends that are fluent in Chinese (I am not, but I know a 
little) can read Japanese text and pick out general meaning if not nuances.

b) I know about 1200 Japanese kanji.  Some of them I knew before taking Japanese 
due to my background with the Chinese languages.  Occasionally there are 
differences, rarely a kanji will mean something COMPLETELY different from the 
Chinese.

Ben Williamson.