Retention of languages vital to identity

With Aboriginal languages receiving little support in schools, an estimated 300 Aboriginal languages at the time of the colonialists arriving to “Terra Nullius” only a little more than 20 languages are remain extensively spoken. Mostly in the Northern Territory and in both northern Western and South Australia.

With more Aboriginal children engaged in mainstream education even these languages are under threat, and especially since the Government cuts to bilingual education for many Aboriginal communities. The loss of bilingual education has had an effect on Aboriginal communities, with their historical and cultural identities taking a hit.

But in somewhat of a turnaround Federal, State and Territory Governments are sponsoring a revival in funding Aboriginal language learning. However there is concern whether the new Federal Government will continue to sponsor funding for Aboriginal language revivals let alone listen to calls for more funding. Remnant Aboriginal languages are spoken throughout Australia and this alone is testament to the will of those who had been oppressed, especially in south eastern Australia which bore the most brutal of the brunt of the effects of the early colonialists and then the Aboriginal Protection Boards which forbade Aboriginal peoples the right to speak their languages as they intentionally sought to wipe out Aboriginal languages and with apartheid-like fervour assimilate peoples.

Daryn McKenny of Newcastle’s Miromaa Aboriginal Language and Technology Centre said that at least 75 languages were wiped out in NSW. But he is among a group of researchers working to rediscover some of the languages through documentation. A recent discovery in the NSW State Library of more than 100 samples of Aboriginal languages from colonial manuscripts is assisting in “revitalising” some of the languages.

Senior research fellow at the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander studies Michael Walsh said the finds were a surprise. “(We opened a) box and found there were two notebooks inside.”

“The first one had a whole lot of doodles and and then seven pages of vocabulary from a language of Central Arnhem Land.” They have now found 100 pages of Aboriginal languages no longer spoken.

Federal funding has been allocated for the preservation of the languages but Mr McKenny said more funding is needed to ensure they are preserved. He said funding is needed as Aboriginal languages become a priority in the new National Curriculum for Australian schools.

“We just need the support and it is going to get harder because soon we are going to have an Australian curriculum for States and Territories on Australian Aboriginal languages. Our original languages for everyone to learn and this will need support,” said Mr McKenny.

He said that in three years time Aboriginal languages will be part of the curriculum but without an allocation of funding to resource the learning the objective of learning them will be undermined. “(There has) to be the resources in place for language to be taught but we are not getting the support to do it.”

Aboriginal-spoken languages are strongest in north-west South Australia, Western Australia and the Northern Territory, especially in the Central Desert. But University of Adelaide language worker Karina Lester said that even these languages are vulnerable. In the north west of South Australia one of the languages spoken is the Yankuntjatjara langauage, one of the languages of the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara lands but which is now at risk. Ms Lester said that Elders are working with programs to ensure the language remains the first language of their children.

Ms Lester said the knowledge of their language allows people to feel confident in their identity and their culture.

“(It) has a lot do with grounding children as well and understanding their place in their society and being able to have that skill in speaking your language and then the support that is needed for them to take on learning the new language of English gives children the understanding I guess in how language needs to be maintained and ongoing and so bilingual education I think is critical.”