Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Languages

Editor: David Nathan

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This site is no longer current and is not being updated.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: 16 ITEMS FOR CATEGORY Blogs, forums, social networking

Spotlighting Australia

Source: James Bednall/Crikey

A linguist's experience of working with the language Anindilyakwa, providing an introduction to the Warnindilyakwa people and their language. An item from ,a href="http://blogs.crikey.com.au/fullysic/">Fully (sic), Crikey's language blog, which features several posts on Australian languages.

http://blogs.crikey.com.au/fullysic/2015/09/03/spotlighting-australias-languages-anindilyakwa/

This is the date when the item first appeared in this virtual library. It may have been changed or updated since then.10/04/2015

 

Barngarla Peoples of South Australia

Source: Facebook public group

A community group for Barngarla descendants, with a particular interest in reclaiming the language.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/Barngarla

This is the date when the item first appeared in this virtual library. It may have been changed or updated since then.17/10/2015

 

Ngayana Diyari Yawarra Yathayilha: Supporting the Dieri language

Source: Peter K. Austin

A blog set up to support the Dieri Aboriginal Corporation language revitalisation project. Includes many posts with language learning materials, explanations, recordings and texts, songs and comics.

https://dieriyawarra.wordpress.com/

This is the date when the item first appeared in this virtual library. It may have been changed or updated since then.06/08/2015

 

Jiwarli

Source: Peter K. Austin

General information, references and short story with audio, for Jiwarli. There is also a short dictionary sample with the promise of a comprehensive online dictionary.

https://jiwarli.wordpress.com/

This is the date when the item first appeared in this virtual library. It may have been changed or updated since then.22/10/2015

 

Bulaga 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.

http://gamilaraay.wordpress.com/

This is the date when the item first appeared in this virtual library. It may have been changed or updated since then.06/08/2015

 

Spotlighting Australia

Source: Rosie Sitorus/Crikey

Linguist Rosie Sitorus provides an introduction to the languages and peoples of the midwest, Murchison and Gascoyne regions of Western Australia. An item from ,a href="http://blogs.crikey.com.au/fullysic/">Fully (sic), Crikey's language blog, which features several posts on Australian languages.

http://blogs.crikey.com.au/fullysic/2015/10/01/spotlighting-australias-languages-wajarri/

This is the date when the item first appeared in this virtual library. It may have been changed or updated since then.10/04/2015

 

Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Language Preservation

Source: Facebook group

Facebook page with news, links etc. Page created by Mrs Elvianna Dorante-Day with the aim to promote, preserve and maintain the use of Australia's Indigenous languages.

https://www.facebook.com/Aboriginal.TorresStraitIslanderLanguages

This is the date when the item first appeared in this virtual library. It may have been changed or updated since then.15/04/2012

 

Australian Aboriginal Astronomy

Source: Duane Hamacher

This blog-format resource brings together researchers who are studying the astronomical knowledge and traditions of Indigenous Australians. Includes some posts and resources with language names for constellations, stone arrangements, and other astronomical phenomena.

http://aboriginalastronomy.blogspot.com.au/

This is the date when the item first appeared in this virtual library. It may have been changed or updated since then.15/12/2012

 

Australian Aboriginal Languages Student Blog

Source: Students from The University of New England, NSW

Student-initiated project to use a blog to raise awareness and share knowledge about Australian languages and related issues. Lots of interesting links and snippets.

http://australianlanguages.wordpress.com/

This is the date when the item first appeared in this virtual library. It may have been changed or updated since then.06/08/2015

 

Australians Shake Up Internet With Indigenous #MotherLanguage Tweets

Source: Kevin Rennie

On 21 February 2015, Indigenous people around the world collaborated in the Tweet for International Mother Language Day campaign. Over 100 Australian languages were represented in tweets on that day.

https://www.oximity.com/article/Australians-Shake-Up-Internet-With-Ind-1

This is the date when the item first appeared in this virtual library. It may have been changed or updated since then.17/10/2015

 

Indigenous languages won’t survive if kids are learning only English

Source: Jane Simpson / The Conversation

Jane considers parallels between forced assimilation and the imposition of English in the context of the UN Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous People. She argues for ‘best practice’ in schools, where the home language is used as the medium of instruction in the classroom at the start, and later children transition in a systematic way to add English. Ultimately, there must be much more Indigenous language - and well-trained language-speaker teachers - throughout schools with Indigenous students.

https://theconversation.com/indigenous-languages-wont-survive-if-kids-are-learning-only-english-30311

This is the date when the item first appeared in this virtual library. It may have been changed or updated since then.06/08/2015

 

Indigenous languages, literacy and the myth of the "unwritten language"

Source: Greg Dickson/Crikey

This article takes an alternative view on the so-called "literacy gap" amongst Indigenous people, and argues for greater recognition and rights to literacy in people"s own Indigeous languages, not (only) English.

http://blogs.crikey.com.au/fullysic/2015/09/10/indigenous-languages-literacy-and-the-myth-of-the-unwritten-language/

This is the date when the item first appeared in this virtual library. It may have been changed or updated since then.10/04/2015

 

that munanga linguist

Source: nginarra*

Regularly updated blog by ‘that munanga linguist’* on a range of topics related to Indigenous languages (mostly NT languages) and related matters, often entertaining and of current-affairs interest. See also Greg Dickson’s page on Academic.au.

http://munanga.blogspot.com.au/

This is the date when the item first appeared in this virtual library. It may have been changed or updated since then.06/08/2015

 

OzPapersOnline

Source: Claire Bowern

A regularly-updated blog of notices of recent papers on Australian languages.

http://ozpapers.wordpress.com/

This is the date when the item first appeared in this virtual library. It may have been changed or updated since then.04/02/2007

 

Peter K. Austin’s web page

Source: Peter K. Austin

Peter’s web page has many downloadable publications and links to blog posts representing his long involvement with Aboriginal languages in NSW, SA and WA. See also Peter’s page on Academia.edu.

http://www.hrelp.org/aboutus/staff/index.php?cd=pa

This is the date when the item first appeared in this virtual library. It may have been changed or updated since then.06/08/2015

 

Transient Languages and Cultures

Source: Jane Simpson et al

Articles, discussions and notices on various topics on Australian languages and linguistics. From staff at University of Sydney, PARADISEC, and others.

http://www.paradisec.org.au/blog/

This is the date when the item first appeared in this virtual library. It may have been changed or updated since then.04/02/2007