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Aboriginal languages to be revived using all resources

26 June 2008 - An Aboriginal Language Conference held in Adelaide recently, talked about reviving endangered Aboriginal languages through schools in South Australia.

More than 4000 South Australian students across 58 different schools, learn an Aboriginal language.

According to the Department of Education and Children’s Services chief executive, Chris Robinson, teaching Aboriginal languages in schools is important to increasing cultural understanding, furthering reconciliation and improving children’s literary skills.

The conference offered workshops on 11 different Aboriginal languages including, Kuarna, Ngarrindjeri, Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara.

The gathering enabled Aboriginal language teachers to broaden their knowledge on these languages and their cultural contexts and also to network and share teaching methods with other teachers.

Although Aboriginal languages are currently not taught in Whyalla schools, local respected Aboriginal elder and translator, Rose Hillman, said reviving the languages and making them strong again is important.

“It’s great that these languages are being taught in schools across the State,” Mrs Hillman said.

“Those of us who can “wangka” (talk), let’s band together and bring them back.

“Let’s get it going soon using all resources available to us, especially in schools.”

Mrs Hillman is fluent in eight different Aboriginal dialects from an estimated 215 and believes the language originated in central Australia.

Source: Wyalla News

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