Source: Christobel Swann
Christobel Swann is a Conservationist who works as an Aboriginal Linguist in Alice Springs. She gives a personal and community perspective on the state of languages, especially her own, southern Arrernte.
Update 2024
This site is no longer current and is not being updated. Since 2016, happily, the number of online sources of knowledge about Australian Indigenous languages exploded in number and diversity of sources, especially from Indigenous organisations and individuals. As a result, it became impossible to keep ALoA up to date. It is no longer a key resource.
As the main web portal for Australian Aboriginal languages on the web (part of Tim Berners-Lee’s official W3C Virtual Library (now defunct at https://www.vlib.org/ - see its history) this site provided summaries, guidance and links to quality resources on Aboriginal languages, especially those produced from communities and by community members. It was listed in most of the major international libraries and other institutions as a key site for Australian languages, and attracted over 500,000 hits a year.
Approximately half of the linked sites still exist and the site’s back-end database remains valuable because it contains data which tracks 20 years of the emergence, expansion and changes in the online presence of Australian First Nations languages from the birth of the web.
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RESULTS: 37 ITEMS FOR CATEGORY Language maintenance & revival
Arrernte [aus-x-arq] see all Arrernte
Barngarla [bjb] see all Barngarla
Source: Facebook public group
A community group for Barngarla descendants, with a particular interest in reclaiming the language.
Source: SBS/Andy Park
Article about the revival efforts for Barngarla (Eyre Peninsula) including an interview with Harry Dare explaining the significance of the language for him, and with Ghil'ad Zuckermann, who says that Australia is one of the worst countries for destroying languages.
Source: Ghil'ad Zuckermann, Paul Monaghan
‘Revival Linguistics’, or ‘Revivalistics’ is proposed as a new branch of linguistics, and is pioneered by Ghil'ad Zuckermann and his team in the Linguistics department, University of Adelaide. In particular, the approach is being applied to the Barngala language, and this paper describes ‘talknological’ innovations such as the use of social media in language revival activities.
Source: Anna Goldsworthy / The Monthly
Lively journalistic account of the teaching and revival of the Barngala language at a workshop run by Ghil’ad Zuckerman. See also Ghil’ad Zuckermann’s website.
Darug [xdk] see all Darug
Source: Dharug Dalang
Facebook Community page accompanying the Dharug Dalang website for learning the Dharug language.
Source: Richard Green / University of NSW
This website implements the teaching paradigm developed by Richard Green, a Dharug songman, for teaching his language. Includes vocab with audio pronunciations.
Source: Richard Green
Richard Green, a Dharug community member and language teacher, has been instrumental in the reclamation of the Dharug language. In this paper, Richard describes his personal history and relationship to his language, his initiation of teaching it in schools, and about his teaching resources and methods.
Source: ABC
An ABC film about reviving languages and the sometimes uneasy relationships between Aboriginal people and linguists. Hosted by Lorena Allam and with contributions from Richard Green (speaking Darug), Alkira Aldridge, Mal Fine, Rob Amery and John Hobson.
Dhurga [dhu] see all Dhurga
Source: Jonathan Hill
Essay in which the author describes the complex issues involved in teaching "a dead language". He advocates that every Australian student should learn an Aboriginal language.
Ganai/Kurnai [unn] see all Ganai/Kurnai
Source: Lynnette Solomon-Dent / Doris Paton / Hollie Johnson
A video about the revival of the Ganai (Kurnai) language of Gippsland, driven by three Ganai women who are teachers and academics. The video is also on Vimeo.
Source: Lynnette Solomon-Dent / Doris Paton / Hollie Johnson / ABC
Video about the GunaiKurnai language of East Gippsland, Victoria, and revival work by Lynnette Solomon-Dent, Dr Doris Paton and Hollie Johnson.
Kamilaroi/Gamilaraay [kld] see all Kamilaroi/Gamilaraay
Source: Brooke Ferguson / John Giacon / Clare Manning / Elena Mujkic
Regularly updated blog for Gamilaraay teaching, language resources, and items of general interest such as songs, photos, video etc.. See also the main Gamilaraay/Yuwaalaraay website.
Source: John Giacon / LDC
A paper considering linguists’ roles, methods, and principles in language revival, largely based on John’s experience with Gamilaraay and Yuwaalaraay.
Karajarri [gbd] see all Karajarri
Source:
Characters include Dianne Appleby, a linguist and speaker of the two languages of her parents - Karrajarri and Yawuru. Dianne regularly performs Welcome to Country ceremonies and was instrumental in establishing Yawuru language classes at the Cable Beach Primary School.
Kaurna [zku] see all Kaurna
Source: ABC
Transcript of article about Kaurna "being spoken as a result of a joint effort by black and white Australians to revive what had been considered by many to be a dead language" [ABC 7.30 Report 28/02/01].
Source: ABC
An ABC film about reviving languages and the sometimes uneasy relationships between Aboriginal people and linguists. Hosted by Lorena Allam and with contributions from Richard Green (speaking Darug), Alkira Aldridge, Mal Fine, Rob Amery and John Hobson.
Source: ABC
In this episode of the ABC’s Awaye!, Kaurna speaker Jack Buckskin and other linguists describe the teaching and revitalisation of Kaurna, the language of the Adeliade plains.
Ngunawal [xul] see all Ngunawal
Source: AIATSIS
Ngunawal is now being taught in a pilot program at Fraser Primary School, the result of a joint effort between Ngunawal community members and linguists from AIATSIS. The program has developed a writing system and sets of resources for teaching Ngunawal.
Palawa Kani [xtz] see all Palawa Kani
Source: Alison Overeem / ABC
Alison Overeem is interviewed about Palawa kani or ‘ Tassie blackfella talk’ and how her community teaches and uses the language today. Includes a wordlist with over 100 words.
Warrungu [wrg] see all Warrungu
Source: Tasaku Tsunoda
A short report of Professor Tsunoda's experience in the preservation and revival of the Warrungu language of the Upper Herbert River area of north Queensland.
Wirangu [wiw] see all Wirangu
Source: Christie Peucker/Adelaide now
Wirangu teachers and academics note that language teaching in many SA schools is dominated by Pitjantjatjara while local languages and their local cultures should be given more attention. In the Ceduna area, Aboriginal teachers are now learning Wirangu from elders Gladys and Doreen Miller and then teaching at Koonibba Aboriginal School through activities like fishing, reef walking and painting.
Woi wurrung [wyi] see all Woi wurrung
Source: VACL
Thornbury Primary School’s Woiwurrung Language Program teaches prep - grade 2 students and extends to include older classes through the Indigenous Studies program. With the support of key Elders of the Wurundjeri Council, lessons are conducted by Koorie Educator Phil Cooper, Wurundjeri woman Mandy Nicholson (VACL officer and Woiwurrung language specialist), and LOTE teacher Leeann Sartorel. Page includes link to Woi wurrung digital storybooks for iOS.
Yawuru [ywr] see all Yawuru
Source:
Characters include Dianne Appleby, a linguist and speaker of the two languages of her parents - Karrajarri and Yawuru. Dianne regularly performs Welcome to Country ceremonies and was instrumental in establishing Yawuru language classes at the Cable Beach Primary School.
Yuwaalaraay [aus-x-yuq] see all Yuwaalaraay
Source: John Giacon / LDC
A paper considering linguists’ roles, methods, and principles in language revival, largely based on John’s experience with Gamilaraay and Yuwaalaraay.
Many languages or language not specified
Source: Lester-Irabinna Rigney
In this paper from 2002, Lester-Irabinna Rigney advocated for the formal recognition of Indigenous languages through constitional amendment and the establishment of a National Indigenous Languages Institute. The paper also discusses issues of reconciliation and language stabilisation and revitalisation.
Source: Kevin Lowe / Michael Walsh
A paper describing recent language revitalisation efforts in NSW and comparing them to those in California.
Source: ABC/Nance Haxton
Media article, with audio, on the threat to the remaining Indigenous languages. The audio includes singing by Lenora Adid in her language Kala Lagaw Ya.
Source: ABC
ABC Hindsight program (4 July 2009) about reviving Aboriginal languages. Transcript available (former website included audio, video, and interviews with Aboriginal teachers and students, linguists and others, interactive map, all now sadly removed by the ABC).
Source: Australian Government, Attorney-General's Department, Ministry for the Arts
The program provides funding to revive and maintain languages, support language workers, and support various forms of artistic expression. The linked guidelines describe the current funding approach, which prioritises offers made by the department directly to language organisations. Formerly known as Indigenous Languages Support, and the Maintenance of Indigenous Languages and Records program.
Source: Victorian Aboriginal Corporation for Languages
A series of 16 factsheets to support communities working to revive their "newly living languages, brought from the past into the present and future". Arranged around methods, practice, and principles, topics include dealling with words, everyday language, healing, and linguistics.
Source: ABC/Message Stick
Article from 2009 - transcript of discussion about language reviitalisation from Aboriginal teachers and others from various regions who are teaching their languages.
Source: MLT / University of Adelaide
The Mobile Language team assists communities in South Australia with linguistic advice, training, workshops, and other language-related projects, and also outreach aspects such as provision of language materials and rasing community and public awareness. The site includes news, resources and references for several South Australian languages.
Source: University of Adelaide
The Mobile Language Team provides assistance and training in language work and resource development for South Australian languages. The website has a range of advice, links and news about South Australian languages. The team consists of Peter Mühlhäusler, Karina Lester, Paul Monaghan, Clayton Cruse, Salote Bovoro, and Celeste Humphris
Source: ABC/Maria Zijlstra/Ghil'ad Zuckermann
Interview with Ghil'ad Zuckermann introducing the concept of ‘Native tongue title’ (a blend of ‘native title’ and ‘native tongue’) which calls for Aboriginal people to be compensated in various ways for the loss of their languages through colonisation. You can download Zuckermann’s article here.
Source: Ghil'ad Zuckermann / Shiori Shauto-Neoh / Giovanni Matteo Quer
A paper proposing a compensation scheme for loss of Indigenous languages, paralleling compensation schemes for some Stolen Generations victims. The paper describes the history of linguicide in Australia, and the benefits of using compensation to support language revival. The paper appeared in Australian Aboriginal Studies 2014/1. See also the Lingua Franca episode on this topic.
Source: John Hobson / Kevin Lowe / Susan Poetsch / Michael Walsh / Others
Full text of this 2010 edited volume with foreword by Jeanie Bell and contributed chapters on language policy and planning, language in communities, language centres, language in education, literacy and oracy, technology, and language documentation. Direct link [PDF, 489 pages]
Source: Kevin Lowe / Anna Ash
Background to the rise of language revitalisation efforts in NSW, and the prominent role of the NSW Board of Studies in providing input and support.
Source: Australian Government, Attorney-General's Department, Ministry for the Arts
Government reports and policies on Indigenous languages, including National Indigenous Languages Policy.
Source: John Hobson
This paper examines issues surrounding Indigenous languages revitalisation in NSW and strategies for increasing the number of Aboriginal language teachers in the state
