I’ve just been pointed to an interesting program on SBS radio on language use in Papua New Guinea and Bougainville. Greg Muller interviews Bill Foley and Sana Banai who is a Hakö speaker from Buka Island, near Bougainville. Both Sana and Bill talk about language and identity, and vernacular literacy. And they both talk about the spread of Tok Pisin, how it is a unifying language, the language of mates, the most common language in Port Moresby, and now is becoming a lingua franca. (Surprising isn’t it that Tok Pisin isn’t taught in schools and universities in Australia? Where are the intensive courses for our soldiers going off to be peace-keepers?)
Linguistics
FollowNational Indigenous Languages Forum “Technology-language-culture” 5th – 7th September 2006
Fancy going to Port Hedland in the Pilbara to discuss Australian languages in early September this year? A flyer arrived from FATSIL (Federation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Languages) asking for us to spread the word on their conference and Annual General Meeting. I can’t see anything about it on their website, so download the flyer if you want registration forms and membership forms. A summary follows.
Language revival – nice Gamilaraay resources and good news on assessment
The Wednesday linguists’ lunch at the CHATS cafe, ANU is a free-wheeling discussion of language, Indigenous Studies, and life in our various institutions – this week it ranged from the reconstructions of the pronunciation of place-names (is Ulladulla really Nguladarla?), to language revival programs, especially John Giacon’s experience with Gamilaraay, and what works and what doesn’t.
New report on Indigenous languages in Canada
Margaret Florey just posted a notice on the list “Resource-Network-Linguistic-Diversity@unimelb.edu.au” (a terrific list for information on languages and fieldwork – see also their website) about a new 161 page Canadian report on revitalising First Nation, Inuit and Métis languages and cultures. It is definitely worth downloading, both for its recommendations and for the information about what’s happening in Canada.
A Blackwood by the Beach for Papuanists
After a couple of very enjoyable Australianist mini-conferences at Crommelin Field Station, James McElvenny from Sydney University has decided to organise the same for Papuan Languages!. We’re hoping to replicate the laid back style of the Blackwood by the Beach conferences, but specifically for Papuan languages. Read on for more details.
Publishing dictionaries and a recent grammar of an Australian language
On the way back from the interesting Australian Linguistics Institute in Brisbane, we stopped in Newcastle to talk with Christine Bruderlin and Mark MacLean, who produce very well laid-out dictionaries and learners’ grammars of Australian languages. The latest is Amanda Lissarrague’s 2006 A salvage grammar and wordlist of the language from the Hunter River … Read more
Recognition for indigenous linguist
I just caught up with the excellent news that Raymattja Marika is the winner of the 2006 Territory Day Award. For many years she has been one of the mainstays of language maintenance and the use of Indigenous languages in Arnhem Land schools, and of trying to craft a way of teaching and learning in … Read more
Extinction of Australian languages and bilingual education
Nick Thieberger has just drawn attention to an article today from “The Australian” about the impending extinction of Australian languages, based on a Worldwatch report. “It is estimated that 90 per cent of the languages spoken by Australia’s Aboriginal peoples will perish within the current generation”. This is timely, as over the last few months … Read more
Foundation for Endangered Languages – OGMIOS newsletter
The latest Ogmios newsletter has just appeared as a pdf – lots of information about what’s happening around the world, including excellent links to work on Indigenous languages around the world as well as reprints of interesting articles (local plug: they’ve reprinted Nicolas Rothwell’s rave review of Allan Marett’s book on Australian Aboriginal music) . … Read more