Saving indigenous languages in Australia

[Paula Meyer]

Oh yes, Richard.  Colonialism is still with us alive and well and widespread, just sometimes disguised.
Paula
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Richard Zane Smith 
  To: ILAT at LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU 
  Sent: Sunday, August 16, 2009 2:43 PM
  Subject: Re: [ILAT] Saving indigenous languages in Australia




  I know what you mean Paula,
  which of course they should support,once one realizes their ancestors grave "sins"
  against indigenous first nations people. Some are sincerely wanting to make up for that.
  but i find something else at work too...
  White educated scholars wanting to correct,lecture and teach us our own cultural perspectives
  and this i find a more ironic (and even annoying).
  We have experienced this with visiting white professors who "know more" than we do
  almost like "ok, listen up... we messed you up , now we are going to rebuild you."
  I don't know, but some of that still feels to me 
  like it leaks from residual slime of the ol' colonialistic urge.


  I appreciate it when people express themselves on this forum.
  ske:noh
  Richard
  Wyandotte Oklahoma




  On Sun, Aug 16, 2009 at 12:42 PM, Paula Meyer <pmeyer8 at cox.net> wrote:
    It is interesting (again) when the colonizers support the revitalization of the languages that they so effectively brought to the "last vestiges."

    Paula
      ----- Original Message ----- 
      From: Don Osborn 
      To: ILAT at LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU 
      Sent: Sunday, August 16, 2009 4:58 AM
      Subject: [ILAT] Saving indigenous languages in Australia


      FYI, from the TK Bulletin blog at http://tkbulletin.wordpress.com/2009/08/11/this-week-in-review-saving-indigenous-languages-in-australia/





      This week in review… Saving indigenous languages in Australia

      Posted by Kirsty under Indigenous and local communities, Language, News alerts, Traditional knowledge

      11 August 2009



      $9.3m to save indigenous languages

      The Age [Australia], 9 August 2009



      CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA: The Australian federal government has pledged $9.3 million over the coming year to help take 113 indigenous languages off the critically endangered list. Of the 145 indigenous dialects spoken in Australia, 110 are at risk of being lost, a 2005 report found. But under the government’s national indigenous languages policy, there will be an increased focus on protecting the last vestiges of indigenous language. The policy will also encourage the teaching of indigenous languages in schools, although it is understood not to alter the course in the Northern Territory, where bilingual education is set to be scrapped in 2010. Read the article… http://news.theage.com.au/breaking-news-national/93m-to-save-indigenous-languages-20090809-edza.html


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