Linguists fear Indigenous language extinctions (fwd link)

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Linguists fear Indigenous language extinctions

Posted Sun Mar 1, 2009 4:31pm AEDT
Australia

A linguist working to preserve threatened languages in a Northern Territory town
has criticised the Territory Government for its policy of forcing Aboriginal
language schools to teach in English.

Garth Agius says bilingual education is the most powerful way to stop languages
from being lost.

The Katherine region, south of Darwin, is home to a rich diversity of Indigenous
languages but only one, Warlpiri, is considered culturally strong and safe.

The Katherine Language Centre is working to preserve 22 of the region's 29
languages.

Access full article below:
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/03/01/2504357.htm?section=justin