Aboriginal Languages
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Before European invasion, more than 250 Aboriginal languages, with over 600 dialects, were spoken in Australia. It is estimated that at least seventy of these languages were spoken in NSW.
Most NSW languages were ravaged by the impacts of colonisation, and have few, if any, surviving speakers.
However, there is no such thing as a 'dead' or 'extinct' language, and over the past two decades there have been many efforts to revive and preserve the rich linguistic and cultural heritage of NSW.
In 2003, the Department of Aboriginal Affairs, in collaboration with other government agencies and in partnership with Aboriginal people across NSW,developed a NSW Aboriginal Languages Policy, which assists Aboriginal communities to revive and preserve their traditional languages.
Following the development of this policy, the NSW Government established the NSW Aboriginal Languages Research and Recource Centre (The Language Centre)
The NSW Aboriginal Languages Research and Resource Centre
The Language Centre's key role is to foster and support the recording, retention and understanding of Aboriginal languages and to support Aboriginal communities regain and strengthen access to their languages, as a pathway to revitalising their culture.
The Language Centre's programs focus on reviving Aboriginal languages in Aboriginal communities, schools, gaols and detention centres as well as the wider community.
The Language Centre provides Aboriginal communities with:
- Technical linguistic and teaching advice
- Research assistance
- Assistance to record language speakers
- Relevant language revival related training tailored to community needs
- Mentoring, networking and collaboration between language initiatives accross the state
- Advice regarding sources of funding available to language projects; and
- Strong advocacy for the revival of Aboriginal languages
The Language Centre is also a central point of contact for members of the public seeking information about Aboriginal languages in New South Wales.
The Language Centre administers the DAA's Community Language Assistance Program, which provides grants of $5000 to $25,000 to projects to revive NSW Aboriginal Languages. For further information please see the COMMUNITY LANGUAGES ASSISTANCE PROGRAM: FUNDING GUIDELINES
For more information on the NSW Aboriginal Languages Research and Resource Centre contact (02) 9219 0700 or visit the NSW Aboriginal Languages Research and Resource Centre website: www.alrrc.nsw.gov.au
