Cover not available
Article published In:
Australian Review of Applied Linguistics
Vol. 28:2 (2005) ► pp.1–14

Indigenous languages of southeast Australia, revitalization and the role of education

| University of Sydney
The Indigenous languages of southeast Australia have often been written off as a hopeless cause in current debates about language revitalization. In this paper we question this pessimism and report on some of the progress that has been made in recent years. It will be shown that revitalization is not only possible but contributes to the strength of identity of Indigenous people and to a heightened awareness for other Australians. We consider the role of education in this process and conclude with some thoughts on the appropriate contribution of the academy.
Published online: 1 January 2005
DOI logo
https://doi.org/10.1075/aral.28.2.01wal
References (49)
References
Amery, R. (1993). Encoding new concepts in old languages: a case study of Kaurna, the language of the Adelaide Plains. Australian Aboriginal Studies, 11, 33–47.Google Scholar
(2000). Warrabarna Kaurna! Reclaiming an Australian language. Lisse: Swets and Zeitlinger.Google Scholar
(2001). Language planning and language revival. Current Issues in Language Planning 2, (2&3), 141–221. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
(2002). Indigenous language programs in South Australian schools: issues, dilemmas and solutions. Paper commissioned by the NSW Office of the Board of Studies. Available at [URL]
Baldauf, R. B. Jr. (1996). Back from the brink? Revival, restoration and maintenance of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages. Southwest Journal of Linguistics, 15(1&2), 1–22.Google Scholar
Board of Studies NSW (1998). New South Wales Aboriginal languages interim framework K-I0. Sydney: Board of Studies NSW. Available at [URL]
(1999). NSW Aboriginal languages case study sample. Sydney: Board of Studies NSW.Google Scholar
(2003a). Aboriginal languages: advice on programming and assessment for stages 4 and 5. Sydney: Board of Studies. Also available at [URL]
(2003b). Aboriginal languages K-10: descriptions of levels of achievement – consultation draft. Sydney: Board of Studies. Available at [URL]
(2003c). Aboriginal languages. Mandatory and elective courses. K-10 syllabus. Sydney: Board of Studies NSW. Also available at: [URL]
(2004a). Aboriginal languages K-10: assessment for learning in a standards-referenced CD Rom. Sydney: Board of Studies.Google Scholar
(2004b). Winangaylanha dhayn-gu gaay: understanding Aboriginal languages CD Rom. Sydney: Board of Studies.Google Scholar
Bowe, H., Peeler, L. & Atkinson, S. (1998). Yorta Yorta language heritage. Clayton, Vic: Dept. of Linguistics, Monash University.Google Scholar
Briggs, G. (1999). Yorta Yorta. Language of the Month Series: 8. FATSIL Newsletter available at [URL]
Crystal, D. (2000). Language death. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
(2004). The language revolution. Cambridge: Polity Press.Google Scholar
DAA (2004). NSW Aboriginal languages policy. Sydney: NSW Department of Aboriginal Affairs. Available at: [URL]
Dalby, A. (2003). Language in danger: the loss of linguistic diversity and the threat to our future. New York: Columbia University Press.Google Scholar
DECS (2004). Aboriginal languages programs in South Australian government schools and centres. Various statistics and other data from surveys conducted during 2004. Learning Outcomes and Curriculum Group, Department of Education and Children’s Services, Adelaide.Google Scholar
Dixon, R.M.W. (1991). The endangered languages of Australia, Indonesia and Oceania. In R.H. Robins & E.M. Uhlenbeck (Eds.) Endangered languages, (pp. 229–255). Oxford/New York: Berg.Google Scholar
(1997). The rise and fall of languages. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Eades, D. (1979). Gumbaynggir. In R.M.W. Dixon & B. Blake (Eds.) Handbook of Australian languages Vol. 11 (pp. 244–361). Canberra: Australian National University Press.Google Scholar
(1991). Communicative strategies in Aboriginal English. In S. Romaine (Ed.) Language in Australia (pp. 84–93). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Ford, L. & Klesch, M. (2003). “It won’t matter soon, we’ll all be dead”: The Wadeye Aboriginal languages project. Retrieved April, 25, 2005, from [URL]
Hartman, D. & Henderson, J. (Eds.) (1994). Aboriginal languages in education. Alice Springs: IAD Press.Google Scholar
Hill, J. (2002). “Expert rhetorics” in advocacy for endangered languages: who is listening, and what do they hear? Journal of Linguistic Anthropology, 12(2), 119–33. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Hobson, J. (2004). Learning to speak again: towards the provision of appropriate training for the revitalization of Australian languages in New South Wales. In J.A. Argenter & R.M. Brown (Eds.) On the margins of nations: endangered languages and linguistic rights. Proceedings of the 8th Foundation for Endangered Languages conference, Barcelona (Catalonia), Spain 1-3 October 2004 (pp. 53–57). Bath: Foundation for Endangered Languages.Google Scholar
Hosking, D.F., Lonsdale, T.J., Troy, J.F. & Walsh, M.J. (2000). Strong language strong culture. New South Wales strategic language study. Final report and strategy action plan. Canberra: AIATSIS.Google Scholar
Johnson, S. (1987). The philosophy and politics of Aboriginal language maintenance. Australian Aboriginal Studies, 21, 54–58.Google Scholar
Laughren, M. (2000). Australian Aboriginal languages: their contemporary status and functions. In R. M. W. Dixon & B. J. Blake (Eds.) The handbook of Australian languages (pp. 1–32). Vol.1 51. Oxford: Oxford University Press.Google Scholar
Learner, R. (Ed.) (2004). Indigenous languages of Victoria: revival and reclamation. VCE study design. East Melbourne: VCAA. [URL]
McConvell, P. & Thieberger, N. (2001). State of Indigenous languages in Australia -2001. Canberra: Department of the Environment and Heritage [URL]
McKay, G. (1996). The land still speaks: review of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander language maintenance and development needs and activities. Canberra: Australian Government Publishing Service.Google Scholar
Maffi, L. (2003). The “business” of language endangerment: saving languages or helping people keep them alive? In H. Tonkin & T. Reagan (Eds.) Language in the twenty-first century: selected papers of the millenial conferences of the center for research and documentation on world language problems (pp. 67–86). Amsterdam: John Benjamins. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Mühlhäusler, P., Wilson, G. & South Australia Department of Education and Children’s Services (2004). Ecological issues in language revival. Hindmarsh: DECS Publishing.Google Scholar
Muurrbay Aboriginal Language and Culture Cooperative (MALCC) (2001). A Gumbaynggir language dictionary = Gumbayngirr bijaarr jandaygam. Canberra: Aboriginal Studies Press.Google Scholar
Nagy, N. (2000). What I didn’t know about working in an endangered language community. International Journal of the Sociology of Language, 1441, 143–60.Google Scholar
Nash, D. (1998). Indigenous languages component. In M. Pearson, D. Johnston, J. Lennon, I. McBryde, D. Marshall, D. Nash & B. Wellington. State of the environment: environmental indicators for national state of environment reporting – natural and cultural heritage, by state of environment (Envi-ronmental Indicator Reports) (pp. 19–20; 77–86). Canberra: Environment Australia, Department of the Environment.Google Scholar
Newry, D. & Palmer, K. (2003). “Whose language is it anyway?” Rights to restrict access to endangered languages: a north-east Kimberley example. In J. Blythe & R. M. Brown (Eds.) Maintaining the links. Language, identity and the land. Proceedings of the seventh conference presented by the Foundation for Endangered Languages. Broome, Western Australia, 22-24 September 2003 (pp. 101–106). Bath: Foundation for Endangered Languages.Google Scholar
Pensalfini, R. (2004). Eulogizing a language: the Ngarnka experience. International Journal of the Sociology of Language, 1681, 141–156.Google Scholar
Schmidt, A. (1990). The loss of Australia’s Aboriginal language heritage. Canberra: Aboriginal Studies Press.Google Scholar
Thieberger, N. (2002). Extinction in whose terms? Which parts of a language constitute a target for language maintenance programmes? In D. Bradley & M. Bradley (Eds.) Language endangerment and language maintenance (pp. 310–328). London: Routledge Curzon.Google Scholar
Tunstill, G. (2004). Adnyamathanha years R-10: a teaching framework for revival and second language learning in years reception to ten. Hindmarsh, SA: DECS Publishing.Google Scholar
Walsh, M. (1997). Cross cultural communication problems in Aboriginal Australia. Canberra: North Australia Research Unit, Australian National University.Google Scholar
(2001). A case study of language revitalisation in ’settled’ Australia. Current Issues in Language Planning, 2(2&3), 251–8. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
(2002). Teaching NSW’s Indigenous languages: lessons from elsewhere. Paper commissioned by the NSW Office of the Board of Studies. Available at [URL]
(2003). Raising Babel: language revitalization in NSW, Australia. In J. Blythe & R. M. Brown (Eds.) Maintaining the links. Language, identity and the land. Proceedings of the seventh conference presented by the Foundation for Endangered Languages. Broome, Western Australia, 22-24 September 2003 (pp. 113–117). Bath: Foundation for Endangered Languages.Google Scholar
(2005). Learning while revitalizing: Aboriginal languages in New South Wales, Australia. In S. May, M. Franken & R. Barnard (Eds.) LED2003: Refereed conference proceedings of the 1st international conference on language, education and diversity. Hamilton: Wilf Malcolm Institute of Educational Research, University of Waikato.Google Scholar
Wilson, G. & Hercus, L. (2004). Arabana, years R to 10: an Arabana teaching framework for language revitalization and second language learning from reception to year ten. Hindmarsh, SA: DECS Publishing.Google Scholar
Cited by (7)

Cited by seven other publications

O’Brien, Grace Marie & Francis Bobongie-Harris
2023. Revitalization of First Nations languages: a Queensland perspective. The Australian Journal of Language and Literacy 46:2 ► pp. 183 ff. DOI logo
Fielding, Ruth
2022. Future Directions for Multilingualism, Identity and Interculturality in Education. In Multilingualism, Identity and Interculturality in Education, ► pp. 199 ff. DOI logo
Ong, Teresa Wai See
2021. Family Language Policy, Language Maintenance and Language Shift: Perspectives from Ethnic Chinese Single Mothers in Malaysia. Issues in Language Studies 10:1 ► pp. 59 ff. DOI logo
Albury, Nathan John
2017. The power of folk linguistic knowledge in language policy. Language Policy 16:2 ► pp. 209 ff. DOI logo
Carilo, Michele Saraiva
2016. Language-in-education policies: the discursive construction of intercultural relations. Language and Intercultural Communication 16:4 ► pp. 627 ff. DOI logo
Zuckermann, Ghil'ad
2012. Limits of Language Revival. In The Encyclopedia of Applied Linguistics, DOI logo
Zuckermann, Ghil'ad & Michael Walsh
2011. Stop, Revive, Survive: Lessons from the Hebrew Revival Applicable to the Reclamation, Maintenance and Empowerment of Aboriginal Languages and Cultures. Australian Journal of Linguistics 31:1 ► pp. 111 ff. DOI logo

This list is based on CrossRef data as of 2 september 2024. Please note that it may not be complete. Sources presented here have been supplied by the respective publishers. Any errors therein should be reported to them.