Degenerative illness Machado-Joseph disease, which affects speech, is prevalent among First Nations people in northern Australia. Researchers have now created Yolŋu communication systems to help mob.
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Articles on Aboriginal languages
Displaying 1 - 20 of 21 articles
Around the world, one Indigenous language is lost every one or two weeks. Almost 10% of the world’s critically endangered languages are in Australia.
Contact languages are widely spoken by many First Nations children. These languages must be recognised and valued in the classroom to better meet students’ learning needs.
People still find ways to express old ways of speaking in a new language, so that language does not fundamentally alter their cultural identity.
In 60 years’ time, only 13 of Australia’s Indigenous languages will be left, unless something is done to encourage children to keep speaking their language.
Australia was one of the most linguistically diverse places in the world but today, few people speak an Australian language.
Aboriginal songs found in the notebooks of a Victorian anthropologist shed light on the mystery of a ‘captive white woman’ that has been debated for generations.
At the Maningrida football Grand Final in 2015, commentary was recorded in nine languages. But elsewhere, the threat of language loss poses a serious risk to our nation’s cultural inheritance.
The NT is the only jurisdiction in Australia mandating the use of English in the Legislative Assembly – despite the fact 42% of the population doesn’t speak English at home.
Music.
The Conversation67.8 MB (download)
Today, we're hearing about a researcher who records birdsong, how tech changes music and why song might help address Indigenous language loss.
Ngár-go (Fitzroy), Quo-yung (Richmond), Yálla-birr-ang (Collingwood), and Bulleke-bek (Brunswick), are just some of the Woiwurrung names uncovered in the notebooks of a 19th century anthropologist.
The origin of around 300 of Australia’s Aboriginal languages lies in Queensland, about 6,000 years ago.
Research shows many concepts are best learned in the language that the learner understands.
The government’s plan to prioritise the revival of Indigenous languages in New South Wales is a welcome first step. Truly achieving it will take several more.
New research investigates how people sequentially add new color terms to languages over time – and the results hold surprises about assumptions linguists have made for 40 years.
A beautiful interactive SBS online documentary puts the spotlight on Marra, an Indigenous language spoken fluently by just three people.
It’s spoken by up to 20,000 people, but most Australians have never heard of Kriol. The creole of North Australia has evolved into a distinct language – but is it helping or killing Indigenous dialects?
From 2016, students will be able to study Aboriginal languages in high schools in New South Wales – but a clause in the design of the course means grades will not contribute towards ATARs.
While AFL player Adam Goodes polarised Australians by performing an Indigenous war dance, New Zealanders unite in celebration of the Haka. The difference in approach to Indigenous culture is telling.
About 20% of the Australian population speaks a language other than English. However there is little connection between the languages taught in schools, and the languages spoken in homes.
Top contributors
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Professor of Linguistics, Yale University
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Professor emerita, Australian National University
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Adjunct associate, Australian National University
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Senior Lecturer, Department of Languages and Linguistics, La Trobe University
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DECRA Research Fellow, Deakin University
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Carly Steele is a Friend of The Conversation.
Lecturer, Curtin University
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Professor of Linguistics, The University of Queensland
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Research Fellow, University of Sydney
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Associate Professor in Language, Literacy and TESL, University of Canberra
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Senior linguistics researcher, Charles Darwin University
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Lecturer, School of Humanities, Griffith University
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Research Fellow in Linguistics, The University of Melbourne
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Director of Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Research Office, University of Sydney
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Associate Professor of History, Deakin University
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Senior lecturer, The University of Western Australia
