NSW brought closer to understanding Aboriginal languages
28 October 2009The revitalisation of Aboriginal languages in NSW has taken an important step forward today with the digital publication of notebooks documenting Aboriginal people, life and culture in early colonial Sydney.
Speaking at the launch of the digitised manuscripts of First Fleet Lieutenant William Dawes at Macquarie University, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs Paul Lynch said the documents provided a valuable insight into Aboriginal life in what is now called Sydney.
"Importantly, these records also document Aboriginal words, providing more building blocks for the revitalisation of Aboriginal languages," he said.
The NSW Government provided more than $10,000 in a partnership with Macquarie University and London University to digitise William Dawes' diaries.
The notebooks, which lay forgotten until 1972, centred on the friendship between William Dawes and his main teacher Patyegarang.
"The publication of these diaries from more than 200 years ago to the digital age will be welcomed by Aboriginal people, linguists, researchers and the wider public," he said.
Mr Lynch said the NSW Government led the way in the revitalisation and protection of Aboriginal languages.
"Linguists suggest that there were at least 70 Aboriginal languages in NSW before 1788," he said.
"The number of people in NSW who identified as speaking an Indigenous language fell from 2682 in 2002 to 804 in the 2006 Census," Mr Lynch said.
"That's why the NSW Government this year again invested $200,000 to support Aboriginal language revitalisation in this State," he said.
"That's why every school in New South Wales now has access to materials to assist the teaching of Aboriginal languages," Mr Lynch said.
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