There are more than 200 Australian Indigenous languages. Less than 20 languages are strong, and even these are endangered : the others have been destroyed, live in the memories of the elderly, or are being revived by their communities.¹

In recent years, there has been an increase in the teaching of Indigenous languages in government, Catholic & independent schools. In 2005, when 133 languages were taught in schools, 45 were Indigenous languages. A listing of most of these can be found from the research study into The State and Nature of Languages in Australian Schools. ² By 2008 it had risen to more than 80 languages and about 29 000 students.³ It is hoped this increases so further language loss is avoided.

This page gives access to information about Indigenous languages, resources, curriculum offerings, community sites, government sites and studies and more.

If you are aware of other quality resources - courses or specific language aspects, let the webmasters know, so they can be considered for inclusion.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander viewers are warned that the following may contain images and voices of deceased persons.

Indigenous Languages

Aboriginal English

• Aboriginal English
  Diana Eades, UNE. Background, vocabulary, sounds, some grammatical features, pragmatics, resources.
• Australian Aboriginal English
  Phonology, grammar, lexicon, references, links. From Wikipedia.
• Modern Aboriginal Language
  Creole, Aboriginal English.

Specific Languages

• Anggargoon
  Bardi on the Web.
• Garawa
  ‘Australian Aboriginal language which was spoken in the Gulf of Carpentaria region close to the Northern Territory/Queensland border’. Language information, texts, audio sources, elicitation material, links.
• Jiwarli
  The Jiwarli language and its background.
• Kamilaroi - Gamilaraay Dictionary
  Dictionary, thesaurus.
• Miromaa ALTC
  Part of a larger Arwarbukarl CRA site.
  Previously listed as Awabakal.
• Ngapartji Ngapartji
  ‘Sample a short language course in Pitjantjatjara’. Also short pieces of a performance work. Try Ninti Ngapartji for information.
• Yuwaalaraay gaay Gamilaraay garay
  ‘Yaama ! Welcome to the Yuwaalaraay and Gamilaraay home page, the central site for information about the Yuwaalaraay and Gamilaraay languages of northern New South Wales. On this site you’ll find language learning lessons, information on pronunciation, and in the Guwaabal section there are twelve stories in Gamilaraay and Yuwaalaraay with transcriptions, English translations and background notes - a great resource for on-line language learning’. You can also go to Gayarragi, Winangali ‘an interactive multimedia resource for Gamilaraay and Yuwaalaraay. Gayarragi, Winangali is free for use by individuals and Gamilaraay Yuwaalaraay organisations’.
• Pilbara Language Brochures
  Word files for 22 languages. Main Menu links access online information about each.
• Western Australian Aboriginal Languages
  Handbook of Languages from south of the Kimberleys.

General Sites

• Aboriginal Languages of Australia
  Annotated links to 180 resources for about 60 languages.
• Aboriginal Studies Electronic Data Archive
  ‘Computer-based [digital] materials about Australian Indigenous languages’.
• ARDS - Language Links
  A small collection of annotated links from the Aboriginal Resource and Development Services.
• Austlang
  Read the information here, then go to the Main Page to access the language database.
• Australian Aboriginal Language Material from the Flint Papers
  University of Queensland. Symbols, abbreviations, phonemes and orthographic conventions, recording practices, language, templates, bibliography.
• Australian Languages
  Data covers reference compilations, workshop information and reports, blogs, particular languages, particular linguists, some dictionaries and other resources. David Nash, ANU.
• Central Land Council - Languages
  Myfany Turpin. Article with background and structural information about Central Australian Indigenous languages.
• English : Aboriginal Language
  Recordings in English and Indigenous languages.
• Gaps in Australia’s Indigenous Language Policy
  Dismantling Bilingual Education in the Northern Territory. Article by Jane Simpson et al, AIATSIS. From Australian Policy Online.
• Indigenous Australian Languages
  Common features, classification, references, links. From Wikipedia.
• Indigenous Language
  National Museum of Australia. ‘Australian English borrowed more than 400 words from some 80 Aboriginal languages’. Flash interactive area, audio files, more. Part of a larger section on the Australian language.
• Langguj Gel
  Blog. Not used for a while, Links to other associated blogs.
• Language Maintenance
  ‘Projects relating to language maintenance are listed. Links to further information where available’.
• Language MAP
  Access a map of the major tribal/language groups in Indigenous Australia. Click on individual sections to zoom in on that area.
• List of English Words of Australian Aboriginal Origin
  Flora and fauna, environment, Aboriginal culture, describing words, place names, names, Aboriginal-sounding words. From Wikipedia.
• NSW Aboriginal Languages Map
  Shows the various languages, then has accompanying resources for use with this.
• Tribal & Language Database
  ‘On-line database on Australian Aboriginal tribes, nations, languages, dialectal groups’. Multiple search methods.

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Government Sites

Includes schools and other educational sources. For further information at the school level, check the Indigenous Education page.

• Aboriginal Languages of Western Australia
  Curriculum Council WA. Details of the syllabus introduced in 2008. Documents available.
• Australian Indigenous Languages
  Introduction, program types, in schools, resources, Language links. Department of Education & Children’s Services, SA. Resources would assist with languages ‘including Adnyamathanha, Antikirinya, Arabana, Kaurna, Narungga, Ngarrindjeri, Pitjantjatjara, Wirangu and Yankunytjatjara’. Also check the Australian Indigenous Languages [SACSA] document here.
• Indigenous Languages - A National Approach
  Abstract, access to full-text. National Indigenous Languages Policy provides more specific detail and also gives access to Indigenous Languages Support [ILS].
• Indigenous Languages of Victoria : Revival and Reclamation
  Senior Studies in Victoria. Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority.
• Indigenous Languages Programs in Australian Schools - A Way Forward
  2008 DEEWR Report. Abstract, PDF and Word files.
• Yaama ! Giinagay ! Marang ngindhugir nginha !
  ‘Homepage for Aboriginal languages. Please use the right-hand menu to navigate this section’. Department of Education &##8; Training, NSW

Organisations & Associations

• Australian Society for Indigenous Languages
  Fact Sheets, resources, links. Resources are particularly good.
• FATSIL
  ‘The national body for community based Indigenous language programs in Australia’. Languages, guides to community protocols, research, newsletter more. Download their Indigenous Languages Petition from here.
• Katherine Regional Aboriginal Language Centre
  languages, activities, interpreting, collaborative work, newsletter, links, more.
• NSW Aboriginal Languages Research and Resource Centre
  ‘Plays a key role in the preservation and revival of Aboriginal languages in the state’. Multiple sections on language in the community, schools, Aboriginal languages in general, map showing usage areas, more.
• Victorian Aboriginal Corporation for Languages
  ‘Responsible for coordinating Community Language Programs throughout Victoria. Focused on retrieving, recording, researching Aboriginal languages and providing a central resource on Victorian Aboriginal Languages with programs now looking at educational tools to teach the Indigenous community about language’. Their Links Page has a range of connections to useful information either national or Victorian based.
• Wangka Maya Pilbara Aboriginal Language Centre
  ‘By working under the direction of Pilbara elders, we will use our expertise, knowledge and sensitivity to record and foster Aboriginal languages, culture and history’. Programs, language, resources, translating, more. Their Resources has several worthwhile downloads.

Other Information & Resources

• Languages of Australia
  Extensive listing of languages including Indigenous languages. Title, culture, spread, levels of literacy, geographical spread, more.
• Language of the Month
  Archived material from FATSIL.
• Languages of the Australian Aborigines
  L.E. Threlkeld 1858. Copy of the original document.

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References

• 1. ed. Nathan, D, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Languages, Retrieved January, 2010, from Aboriginal Languages of Australia : http://www.dnathan.com/VL/index.php
• 2. Research Centre for Languages and Cultures Education, University of South Australia. An Investigation of the State and Nature of Languages in Australian Schools, 2008, p. 30. Retrieved January, 2010, from DEEWR.
• 3. ACER, Indigenous Languages Programs in Australian Schools - A Way Forward. Retrieved January, 2010, from DEEWR.

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