Aboriginal Languages: The Loss Of Indigenous Languages

Around the world, there are over 6,500 different languages still spoken today. However, approximately 640 known languages have now become extinct. The Indigenous people of Australia once spoke over 250 languages. This number has now dropped to 145 languages, of which 110 are critically endangered. This means that the 105 Aboriginal languages lost represent 16.5% of all extinct languages.

The disappearance of many Aboriginal languages is, without a doubt, a result of the British colonisation of Australia.

In Australia’s history the white population made a clear division between themselves and the native Aboriginal inhabitants, viewing them as a race that was inferior to their own.

From this viewpoint it is easily discernable that the

Aiden Ridgeway, a well known spokesperson from the Gumbaynggir tribe, reflected on the importance of native language stating that, “it goes to the heart and soul of one’s identity and gives connection to family, country and community. It instils a sense of enormous pride and provides the strength from which to see the world beyond the fences of your own community - then everything seems possible.”

Aiden’s reflection illustrates the significance of language to Aboriginal Australians. However, the preservation of language is not only important to those who speak it but also in safeguard the tribes culture. An Aboriginal elder from the Gurindji tribe stated, “You can’t have a culture without language.” This is a very powerful statement and it highlights the need to keep alive the remaining Aboriginal languages.

But what are people doing in order to protect the native languages of Australia?

Since the European colonisation of Australia, Aboriginal languages have seriously declined with little concern from the non-Indigenous population. However, in recent years the Australian Government has begun to recognize Aboriginal Australians as the original inhabitants of Australia’s and their importance in our

However, since the change in leadership there is likely to be a rise in the amount of funding given to Aborigines and the preservation of their native languages.

Malcom Turnball stated, “As we looked into it, we realised this whole issue of language, and language preservation and culture was so important it could be more than a mark of respect – more a statement about the importance of language and the continuity of language”

He further went on, pledging to give an additional $20 million to collect “the critical cultural knowledge” and promote Aboriginal language, culture and traditions, over the next two years. Whether he keeps his promise or not is yet to be seen. However, if he does this will be a valuable contribution to help keep Aboriginal languages alive.

Federal government funding towards language preservation is given to multiple organisations furthering documentation of Indigenous languages. These groups often collect, document and pass on the traditional Aboriginal languages by

- teaching and promoting the language

- producing a book or dictionary

- collecting all known