Dictionary aims to preserve Indigenous language (fwd)

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Dictionary aims to preserve Indigenous language

Tuesday, 9 November 2004
http://www.abc.net.au/northwestwa/news/200411/s1239184.htm

Linguists in the Pilbara, in north-west Western Australia, have taken
steps to preserve one of the rarest languages in the world.

The Aboriginal language Putijarra originates in the Western Desert
region and is spoken by just four people in communities such as
Jigalong and Yandeyarra.

The Wangka Maya Aboriginal Language Centre has now compiled a 100-page
Putijarra dictionary and grammar guide, from stories told by local
speakers.

Language centre manager Fran Haintz says the year-long project is
crucial to preserving local Indigenous knowledge.

"Language is integral to culture, so if we record the language and try
and keep the information strong and the stories, the generations that
follow can continue to listen to those stories and through the use of
dictionaries and so on understand what's going on and hopefully...[the]
language and the culture is stronger," she said.

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Related Audio

Linguists in the Pilbara, in north-west Western Australia, have taken
steps to preserve one of the rarest languages in the world - the
Aboriginal language Putijarra.

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